Mr WARREN - 2008-02-21
Climate change is the biggest threat to our great Territory lifestyle - probably the greatest we will ever encounter. Can you please outline some of the measures that our government is taking to deal with tackling this important issue?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Goyder for his question. As an engineer, he is very interested in the issues of climate change and we have had a number of discussions about it.
Today, Professor Ross Garnaut has issued a further warning to the Australian government that climate change is probably happening now at a faster rate than was previously believed. I am disappointed my colleague, the Deputy Chief Minister, could not attend the Council of the Federation’s meeting in Adelaide today to see that report delivered firsthand, but she was stuck in the airport at Alice Springs for a whole day yesterday due to problems with her flight.
We cannot take a relaxed and comfortable attitude to climate change in the Northern Territory. We have to be part of the national approach to how we, as Australian citizens, are going to commit and contribute to the international real focus on reducing greenhouse gases.
Today, I have announced a more focused government approach. Government agencies will be required to cut their carbon footprint under the Territory’s first policy on climate change, so that will be a directive issued to all agencies. Within the next 12 months, we will develop the Northern Territory’s first policy on climate change, setting a course of action to ensure the Territory continues to develop whilst playing our part. It is very important that whatever we do, at a national or a local setting, does not constrain development in the Northern Territory.
Central to the climate change policy will be a requirement for government agencies to develop strategies to reduce their carbon footprint, including cutting energy use and ensuring major cleaning contracts include recycling provisions. Part of that will ensure that each agency develops a cost-benefit analysis over the longer term to ensure that, as well as reducing our carbon footprint, these strategies are cost-effective for government.
I have also asked the Auditor-General to develop performance management systems that will monitor outcomes of these carbon reduction strategies, highlighting which strategies are working and which require attention. This will be an accountability mechanism to ensure that agencies are audited on the work that they are doing by our Auditor-General.
The government is also in the process of recruiting a climate change expert to assist in the development of our climate change policy. The consultant will work closely with the newly-created Climate Change Policy and Coordination Unit and the climate change working group.
As I said, in creating this portfolio responsibility within government, when Professor Garnaut hands his report down in the middle of this year, and the Australian government decides what action it is going to take as a consequence of this report, of what caps and trading schemes will be put in place, it will be important that the Territory has a very strong position at the table. Engaging that consultant in the lead-up to those meetings will ensure that we seize the opportunities. There very well may be economic opportunities for the Northern Territory in offset programs in carbon seats. We will also play our part in the overall effort to reduce greenhouse gases globally. A very interesting policy time is emerging this year throughout Australia and globally. We will play our part and government agencies will also play their part.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Goyder for his question. As an engineer, he is very interested in the issues of climate change and we have had a number of discussions about it.
Today, Professor Ross Garnaut has issued a further warning to the Australian government that climate change is probably happening now at a faster rate than was previously believed. I am disappointed my colleague, the Deputy Chief Minister, could not attend the Council of the Federation’s meeting in Adelaide today to see that report delivered firsthand, but she was stuck in the airport at Alice Springs for a whole day yesterday due to problems with her flight.
We cannot take a relaxed and comfortable attitude to climate change in the Northern Territory. We have to be part of the national approach to how we, as Australian citizens, are going to commit and contribute to the international real focus on reducing greenhouse gases.
Today, I have announced a more focused government approach. Government agencies will be required to cut their carbon footprint under the Territory’s first policy on climate change, so that will be a directive issued to all agencies. Within the next 12 months, we will develop the Northern Territory’s first policy on climate change, setting a course of action to ensure the Territory continues to develop whilst playing our part. It is very important that whatever we do, at a national or a local setting, does not constrain development in the Northern Territory.
Central to the climate change policy will be a requirement for government agencies to develop strategies to reduce their carbon footprint, including cutting energy use and ensuring major cleaning contracts include recycling provisions. Part of that will ensure that each agency develops a cost-benefit analysis over the longer term to ensure that, as well as reducing our carbon footprint, these strategies are cost-effective for government.
I have also asked the Auditor-General to develop performance management systems that will monitor outcomes of these carbon reduction strategies, highlighting which strategies are working and which require attention. This will be an accountability mechanism to ensure that agencies are audited on the work that they are doing by our Auditor-General.
The government is also in the process of recruiting a climate change expert to assist in the development of our climate change policy. The consultant will work closely with the newly-created Climate Change Policy and Coordination Unit and the climate change working group.
As I said, in creating this portfolio responsibility within government, when Professor Garnaut hands his report down in the middle of this year, and the Australian government decides what action it is going to take as a consequence of this report, of what caps and trading schemes will be put in place, it will be important that the Territory has a very strong position at the table. Engaging that consultant in the lead-up to those meetings will ensure that we seize the opportunities. There very well may be economic opportunities for the Northern Territory in offset programs in carbon seats. We will also play our part in the overall effort to reduce greenhouse gases globally. A very interesting policy time is emerging this year throughout Australia and globally. We will play our part and government agencies will also play their part.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016