Page 1171 - Week 04 - Thursday, 21 April 1994
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Housing Trust - Rent Arrears
MRS GRASSBY: My question is directed to the Minister for Housing and Community Services. I am sure that the answer will be appreciated not only by me but also by Mr Cornwell. Can the Minister please inform the Assembly of recent trends in the amount of rental arrears owing to the Housing Trust?
MR LAMONT: I thank the member for her question. Yes, Madam Speaker, I can provide a good deal of advice - some good news and some bad news - for Mrs Grassby and Mr Cornwell. There was a reduction in the value of current arrears as a percentage of rent receivable between June last year and March this year. Arrears were reduced from 3 per cent in June last year to 2.2 per cent as at 31 March 1994. However, what is of concern to me is that there has been an increase in the percentage of vacated arrears to rent receivable. As a result of that, I have engaged a professional agency to pursue that outstanding debt. I believe that, while it is regrettable, it is necessary to ensure that we take the appropriate action to recover that amount of debt.
The reduction in current arrears is due to the housing staff promptly addressing arrears following the early advice, negotiating realistic repayment agreements and ensuring that clients adhere to their agreements, and encouraging tenants to pay by automatic deductions from their salary or bank or credit union. Negotiations have recently concluded between the Housing Trust and the Reserve Bank in relation to direct payments of Housing Trust rents. I will be making a further announcement on that matter very shortly.
ACTTAB - Contract with VITAB Ltd
MR DE DOMENICO: My question without notice is addressed to the Minister for sport, recreation and racing, Mr Lamont. Minister, on Tuesday night, I think it was, on WIN Television you issued a public invitation to the Victorian Racing Minister to cooperate with the Pearce inquiry. I think they were your words. You are probably also aware that last night the Victorian Minister publicly said that he would be delighted to do so if he was invited to by Professor Pearce. Minister, will you now also publicly demand that Mr Bob Hawke, Mr Con McMahon, Mr Dan Kolomanski, and Mr Michael Dowd and Mr Peter Bartholomew - the owners of the mysterious Oak Ltd - and Mr Alan Tripp all also appear before the inquiry to explain their roles in this shonky deal?
MR LAMONT: I thank the member for his question. Madam Speaker, I am not aware that any of those people used their mates to get police records out of confidential files held in Victoria. If that were the case, I am sure that Professor Pearce will ask them to appear as well.
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