Page 58 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 13 February 1990
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Recreation and Racing, has obvious logic. I acknowledge that progress was made by the previous Government in the first six months of self-government on a range of issues now within my portfolio, and I would like to assure the Assembly that there is bipartisan support for many of the critical concerns, particularly in housing and community services.
We are reviewing our policies for sport, recreation and racing. The Government appreciates the significance of these activities and their importance in contributing to the ACT economy and the well-being of the community. My executive deputy, Mr Stefaniak, is closely involved in developing our policy statement on sport, recreation and racing and will be finalising that in the next few weeks.
The housing policy review started by the previous Government will continue, so will the consultative processes of that review. We will further examine the fidelity guarantee fund and attendant bond protection schemes. Work is proceeding on the proposed private sector rental housing trust. Advertisements will appear in the press this Saturday for the single share accommodation scheme. We are continuing with the replacement of Melba Flats and I propose to provide a progress report to the Assembly after I have completed my examination of a recent report on development options. The housing policy review will now concentrate on home ownership and our progressive equity participation scheme.
In regard to housing options for the aged, I intend to issue a discussion paper after the Chief Minister has responded to the Social Policy Committee's inquiry in this area. We will undertake a major review of user rights and the current eviction procedures will change. In consultation with the Commonwealth we are proceeding to prepare the first annual rental assistance plan for the ACT. It will be released after consultation with the community and it will provide the strategies, priorities and targets for public housing in 1990-91.
Planning is also a feature of the related supported accommodation assistance program. I have recently approved the strategic plan for SAAP and we will also release this plan to guide community organisations in preparing proposals for funding. This program will provide a forceful illustration of the tangible benefits of creating the Housing and Community Services Bureau. By bringing together the Housing Trust and community programs, which were in Health, we will be able to create an integrated plan for youth housing where there were elements of support missing in the previous Government's strategy.
I have been examining the previous Government's response to the Burdekin report. The Alliance Government will produce its own response which will build on and improve the previous plan. I gave priority to youth initiatives in the grants for community organisations I announced on 5 January
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