Page 4379 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 30 November 1994
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In addition to that, I am also responsible for the ACT Housing Trust. The ACT Housing Trust, in some suburbs, in some local areas, owns in excess of 30 per cent of the housing stock. Therefore, 30 per cent of the residents in, say, Ainslie are public tenants. As such, I have a responsibility to ensure not only that those tenants are afforded the rights of every other citizen living in Ainslie, but also that they are required to meet the obligations of every other tenant or person living in Ainslie. To that end, in an announcement by the Minister, Mr Wood, in responding to the Lansdown report, the Government quite clearly has indicated that in a wider suburban context in Ainslie, as an example, the local area planning arrangements will be put in place.
I understand that Mr Wood, in a moment, will expand on this. Our first meetings in that area are scheduled for December. They are aimed at getting the community together in relation to the local area planning issues and a lot of the local infrastructure issues associated with a number of concepts that Ms Szuty raised in her opening remarks - concepts about our schools, concepts about the way our streets are structured, the relationship with local shops, the relationship with schools and so forth. This is all part of being within this neighbourhood.
The Government, in protecting and securing the future of our neighbourhoods, has, I believe, an enviable record. That does not mean to say that on occasions things cannot be done better, or that we should say, "We have implemented this program; therefore we should remain static". As a city we will mature, we will develop, and governments of any persuasion, over time, need to mature and develop with the city. We need to develop and mature in our attitudes towards our own neighbourhoods. We need to mature and develop responses which our communities, our neighbourhoods, want - nay, I say, demand - from governments and service providers.
It is interesting also to note that it is not just the Government that has a responsibility for the development of neighbourhoods. Private individuals also have a responsibility to be involved in that concept, as do private sector organisations, private businesses. Non-government organisations also have a legitimate role in developing these concepts and encouraging the development of neighbourhoods. I am pleased to see that in a range of areas, whether it is in child-care, whether it is through the Housing Trust, whether it is through the planning department, whether it is through the ACT Housing Trust, whether it is through the Department of Urban Services, the ACT police force, the Fire Brigade and those other government service providers, that is what is happening. Involvement between government organisations and non-government organisations is at an all-time high in those areas. The great respect that these organs of government have within the community, I believe, is probably the highest amongst any community in Australia. If I look at our police force, a government service, it is, in fact, the most highly regarded police force by its community in Australia. If I look at the Fire Brigade and our Ambulance Service, a similar position applies.
Without repeating myself too much, Madam Speaker, I would indicate that this Government has an enviable record. This Government is not just the eight people who sit on this side of the house. This Government is, in fact, the management of the organisation of the ACT administration. That is why I claim that Ms Szuty's proposition is in error and that, in fact, the Government has been providing for the advancement and development of neighbourhoods in the ACT.
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