Page 795 - Week 03 - Thursday, 22 March 1990
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It is truly regrettable that Rosemary Follett and ... Senator McMullan could not give me a few weeks to finalise this important package of laws. I am in Sydney today with legal colleagues from the human rights areas finetuning some of the more complex issues surrounding identified weaknesses in the Federal and State laws.
So we had is more talk - and that was over two months ago - but still no action. I also bring to the Assembly's attention the fact that the Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission is extremely intrigued to know from whom Mr Collaery was seeking advice on that date.
Human rights, as we all know, extend to fair and equal treatment in all spheres of activity, including areas that are sometimes termed protection of consumers or consumers rights. I ask Mr Collaery and the Government: where is the rental bond board legislation? Where is the landlord and tenant legislation? Where are the credit laws? Where are any of those 100-odd laws that Mr Collaery has promised us?
The ACT Government has signed an agreement on uniform trade measurement laws, but where is the legislation? We have yet to see that. On 28 February 1990 Mr Collaery said that the Alliance Government is actively participating in negotiations to achieve uniformity of credit legislation. This uniformity that Mr Collaery has touted is considered by the Australian Consumers Association as meeting only the lowest common denominator formula which is demanded by the Greiner Liberal Government. So, even if we get legislation on credit, it will be the weakest possible, and it will do a lot more to serve the needs of credit providers than the rights of credit users.
We would like to turn to housing and people's rights in the housing area. It is a fundamental right of our citizens. Again Mr Collaery has demonstrated his confusion. He started off saying that his Government would sell off some public housing - - -
Mr Kaine: When?
Mr Collaery: Give the date.
MS FOLLETT: And then provide public housing to only those in genuine need. That is a quote from his policy. That is, I believe, a disgustingly derisory catchcry of the conservatives - "those in genuine need".
After Mr Collaery made that statement, somebody showed him the Commonwealth-State Housing Agreement, to which the Minister has now put his signature, but it demonstrated that Mr Collaery's objective might need to be reconsidered. So much for human rights in housing!
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