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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-12-02 Daily Xml
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ENERGY, STAR RATING

The Hon. S.G. WADE (14:35): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Urban Development and Planning a question relating to six-star energy ratings.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: In July this year, the Council of Australian Governments released its national strategy on energy efficiency. The strategy is based on four key themes, including making buildings more energy efficient. In particular, the strategy sets out seven measures to increase energy efficiency in the residential building sector. The first measure commits Australian governments to increasing energy efficiency provisions in the Building Code of Australia for all new residential buildings by upgrading minimum energy efficiency standards to six stars in the 2010 update, with the Building Code of Australia to be implemented by May 2010.

The opposition has been informed that assessment by independent environmental consultants supports concerns in the transportable home industry that it is highly unlikely that transportable homes can be made six star compliant and, as a result, the sector may close down. Transportable homes are often a more affordable housing option, particularly for people living in residential parks. Also, at a time when regional areas are experiencing significant housing shortages, the loss of transportable housing would be a major issue for the mining industry. My questions are:

1. Will the minister grant an exemption from the six-star energy rating for transportable homes while the impact on the industry is assessed?

2. Has the minister considered the impact this might have, particularly for mining communities, in relation to the housing shortage already being experienced?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (14:37): I thank the honourable member for his question. This issue was discussed quite recently at the building ministers' forum in Melbourne. Whereas I think that most states are very keen that these six-star ratings should come into operation as soon as possible, there are some issues to be sorted out. Indeed ministers had, on the very day of the meeting, only just received a report in relation to some of the impacts of the ratings.

While I believe that most states are supportive of the target start-up date in principle, because of the issues in relation to the report being received at only the last minute the matter was to be determined out of session before Christmas. I expect that we will be in a position to finalise a decision in relation to six-star ratings fairly soon, but we are waiting to hear from federal minister Senator Carr in relation to that. So the honourable member is correct that some issues have been raised in relation to this matter, and we will be looking at those before a final decision is made.

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