Page 2606 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 14 October 1992
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We do provide them with accommodation at minimal cost. It is quite substantial in space, if rather poor in quality. I have not heard that they would like to move, but I suppose that anybody in the Childers Street buildings would like to move. It is not the best standard of accommodation around the ACT. I can only advise Ms Szuty that I am aware of their anxieties and that I must consider their claims in the context of all the claims we get.
Emergency Rescue Services
MR WESTENDE: My question without notice is directed to the Minister for Urban Services, Mr Connolly. Will the Minister consider establishing a single, but jointly manned, ACT rescue service?
MR CONNOLLY: Madam Speaker, we consider a lot of proposals. This is one that was foreshadowed by Mr Kaine yesterday afternoon. There are some problems with it, the principal one being that the AFP is a peculiar agency in its relationship with the ACT Government. It is not a public service agency over which we have the standard public service controls. Quite apart from the traditional non-intervention in police operational matters, it is a Federal agency operating under Federal law with which we have a contract to provide community policing services.
I can say to the Assembly that we will look at all options that provide the result the community wants, which is the best rescue service. I do not see any inherent problem in two services providing that, just as I do not see any problem, in the amalgamation we have done of fire services, in retaining the separate identities of the rural fire service and the urban fire service. That degree of healthy competition and esprit de corps with a competitive edge can be healthy. It is unhealthy when it breaks down into the sort of open rivalry we have seen over the last few days. I guess that it is one option that could be considered, although it is not one that is actively being pursued.
Building Inspections
MS ELLIS: My question is directed to the Minister for Urban Services. Can the Minister inform the Assembly what action has been taken on building inspection operations in the ACT?
MR CONNOLLY: There were some concerns this morning, on the Matthew Abraham show, that a leaked confidential document disclosed some plan by the Government to radically alter Building Control. In fact, the document that was being referred to, a copy of which I am able to table, was a minute to all staff in Building Control that was a follow-up to discussions we had had a month or so ago as a result of some public concerns about Building Control. I asked the Building Controller to consult with unions, with the industry and with his own staff about possible improvements to ensure that we provide a good quality service. As the Chief Minister indicated in answer to an earlier question, the home building sector is very strong in the ACT and is a vital part of our economic growth.
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