ACT Greens MLA Laura Nuttall brought a motion to the Assembly calling on the ACT Government to undertake a range of actions to progress its commitment to phase out wood heaters by 2045.  

The actions included commencing public consultation on a draft phase-out plan, developing a register to track the number and location of existing wood heaters, and investigating the cost of wood heater smoke on the ACT’s environment and public health system.  

ACT Labor moved amendments that sought to walk away from its prior commitment — which was announced in a media release in 2023 by then-Minister for the Environment, Rebecca Vassarotti — to phase out wood heaters in the ACT by 2045. The Government substituted text broadening the motion to note that the ACT is on a journey to electrify the city and transition away from the use of fossil fuel gas by 2045. 

Thomas believes a key part of his role on the crossbench is keeping the Government accountable to its commitments, and he strongly disputed ACT Labor’s argument that a previous statement of government policy by a former Greens Minister in a media release did not amount to a clear government commitment that needed to be upheld.  Along with the ACT Greens, Canberra Liberals and fellow independent Fiona Carrick MLA, he opposed the amendment put forward by ACT Labor, which did not pass. 

The Assembly then voted on the original unamended motion. Thomas voted with the Greens and Fiona Carrick MLA in favour of Miss Nuttall’s motion, which did not pass due to the opposition of ACT Labor and the Canberra Liberals.