Strengthen Commissioner's role with resources and independence
Strengthen Commissioner's role with resources and independence
ACT Greens MLA Deb Foskey today welcomed the expansion of the Commissioner for the Environment's role to include Sustainability but says more resources will be needed to carry out that role effectively.
"Ever since I have been in the Assembly the Commissioner has been asking for more resources in order to carry out their role," said Deb Foskey today.
"On two days a week, the job could only be half done. A review of the Office told the Government this in 2004"
"I hope that with the expansion of the role come more resources and more staff."
"As it is effectively a new position, I would have liked the appointment of the Commissioner to have been a more transparent process."
"Dr Cooper clearly has all the qualifications for the job, and has proved her mettle as Chief Executive of Environment ACT prior to its abolition in the 2006 budget."
"However, she has been until today a senior executive of the ACT Government, doing its bidding, and a sharp change in focus will be needed for her to carry out scrutiny of the government's performance on the environment and its implementation of its Climate Change Strategy."
"This is a role that can only be successful if it is independent from Government, and this is especially important in the wake of the importance of a ratcheted-up climate change strategy, which I hope the Commissioner will recommend.".
"The Commissioner for the Environment Act 1993 specifies that the commissioner will:
- produce State of the Environment reports for the ACT
- investigate complaints from the community regarding the management of the Territory's environment by the ACT Government or its agencies
- conduct investigations directed by the Minister
- initiate investigations into actions of the ACT Government or its agencies where those actions have a substantial adverse impact on the Territory's environment
- make recommendations for consideration by the ACT Government, and include in the Annual Report the outcomes of those recommendations.
"Consequently, a change to the Act may be necessary to cover the expansion of the role," said Dr Foskey
MEDIA CONTACT Deb Foskey 6205 0161; 0413 223 585
