Page 170 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 23 February 1994
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MR STEVENSON: I would suggest that it should be 10 years. One could talk about the details. Why I stand is to suggest that we do not just dump this in the central filing cabinet and forget about it. Why do we not look at what agreement we can get, between all of us, to make it work? If we think there are problems, let us make the Bill an extra couple of pages long and put the details in there.
Mr Connolly: Dennis, we will give you a full briefing on what we do, on our current scheme, home loans and all the rest. It would be very helpful.
MR STEVENSON: Stand up and give it to the people of Canberra and the people in this Assembly now. If you are saying that there is no need for the Bill because it is already fully covered, tell us. I will be happy to give you some extra time. That is reasonable. I do not believe for a second that it is covered; I do not believe it at all. But the goal is one that we should have. If there are detailed problems it should be put to a committee where these details can be put forward and looked at, where people - ACTCOSS and others - have an opportunity to say, "Look, we think it is a good idea. We agree that there are a couple of problems. These are the solutions". Does that not make more sense?
What I intend to do, after Mr Cornwell's speech, is move to send the matter to the Social Policy Committee. Well might you laugh, Chief Minister.
Ms Follett: Yes, I do. Are you going on the committee, or any committee?
MR STEVENSON: When you say "any committee", you voted against my going on three in the First Assembly. Every time you mention that, I will mention some of the details of the blocking of my going on various committees, including the Public Accounts Committee. Every time you bring it up, I will bring it up, and I could go further into the politics of that. It just wastes time. You waste your time bringing it up and I waste my time telling everybody what goes on.
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Stevenson, it is your time. Please go back to the topic in hand.
[~Bold MR STEVENSON: It is an important point to make, and every time it is done, I will make the point.
The fact that it has been before the Assembly for some time is neither here nor there. Let us simply look at what will best benefit Canberrans and how their money can be best used. There is another benefit. If someone knows that they have an excellent opportunity to purchase the property that they are currently renting, I suggest that that gives them a very nice goal to head toward in life, one that can have direct and excellent ramifications in their lives and the lives of their families, the jobs they get, the work they put in, the improvements they put in on their home, and all other things. There has to be a fair situation. If the place was sold and there was no fair return, then the Government would have to go and buy other properties; but in the situation that we have, provided we look at the correct details, provided we make it work, that can happen. If there is a particular problem in some inner city areas, let us use our ability and the ability of people in Canberra, through submissions to the committee, to work out a solution. I can understand the concerns and I do not disagree with them, but let us not just chuck it down when the principle, the end principle of this Bill, in our hearts, we all agree with.
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