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Ms McRae: Vote for my motion and it is there forever, Mr Humphries.

MR HUMPHRIES: Ms McRae is talking about legislation. I am talking about consultation on all sorts of things, and there are many other things that it covers. I can recall, for example, briefing Mr Berry about health matters when I was Minister for Health. When Mrs Carnell became shadow Minister for Health after the then change of government she received almost nothing in the way of briefings from the Department of Health. I would hope that we are overcoming those dark days.

Mr Berry: She did not need them.

Mr Connolly: She never asked for them. Whenever she asked for a briefing she got it.

MR HUMPHRIES: I did not say “Mr Connolly”; I said “Mr Berry” - and I do not want to make an issue of it now. I simply want to say that I hope that we do not demand a higher level of consultation than we ourselves are prepared to give.

MR STEFANIAK (Minister for Education and Training and Minister for Housing and Family Services) (12.00), in reply: I thank members for their comments in the debate, which on the whole, I think, were very positive. Ms McRae, of course I would like to get your input and to consult you. Indeed, I would value input on these matters from any member of the Assembly. Please feel free to consult with me at any time. I am pleased to say, in terms of public debate, that the officers in the Housing Trust are particularly good at getting a wide range of community views and are very keen on input and consultation. In terms of any decisions, the more input you have from as wide a range of people as possible, the better. I am very keen to encourage public debate and maximum consultation with as many people as possible. Might I say that in the short time I have been Housing Minister I have been particularly impressed with the calibre of the officials I have come in contact with.

Ms McRae made a number of other points. In relation to people buying their own home, I note that she seems to differ with Mr Moore. I cannot give you figures on how many people are keen to take that up at this stage, Ms McRae. I do not suspect that it will be an absolute glut. I think it is terribly important for people who wish to buy their own home to be given that opportunity. I think people in Housing Trust homes like to have that opportunity. I doubt, however, that there would be a swamping of the market. From what I have seen to date, the prices being offered are market value and they reflect the very low market value we have, sadly, in Canberra today as a result of the recession we find ourselves in and the glut of properties generally on the market.

Ms McRae raised a number of other issues, including moneys outstanding. I was concerned last year, as I think you were, Mr Speaker, as the then shadow Housing Minister, at the then Minister's wiping of outstanding moneys. There are a number of procedures in place - very reasonable ones too - whereby people who get themselves into trouble can slowly pay back the moneys that are outstanding. There is direct debit. I am also keen to assist tenants who tend to get themselves into trouble to nip that in the bud early on, rather than let it get out of hand. When you are on a very low income and you get $400 or $500 in arrears, it is “throw up the hands” time.

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