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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 9 Hansard (28 August) . . Page.. 2673 ..

MR STEFANIAK (continuing):

for the first time, will have protections identical or equivalent to those enjoyed by the private sector tenants in key areas such as rent setting, fitness of premises, urgent maintenance, access for inspections, resolution of tenancy disputes by an independent tribunal, tenancy termination and the treatment of abandoned goods.

Mr Speaker, this really is a motion that is not deserving of support. It is a motion that does not seem to appreciate the current situation in relation to public housing and the fact that for this year all moneys we get from any sales will go directly back into public housing. It also seeks to bind this Assembly to an agreement which has not yet been finalised, an agreement which the States and Territories still have not seen in its final draft form, which still needs to be worked out and which will open up a number of other possibilities. If this motion were to be adopted, it would mean that the ACT simply could not move forward and could not in fact keep up with the rest of Australia once the new Commonwealth-State Housing Agreement was finally signed.

Mr Speaker, Mr Berry has an amazing amendment in relation to putting back in the $10.4m. It is quite clear from everything the Government has been saying that we are having a very significant development program this year. Where on earth does Mr Berry expect that $10.4m to come from if it goes back in? Will it come from health, education or somewhere else? I think that would be an absolute nonsense amendment for people to support.

I might deal with just some of the very exciting public housing programs we have going on this year. The Condamine Court redevelopment is a central feature of the better cities program.

Ms Reilly: It was a Labor initiative, was it not?

MR STEFANIAK: The Condamine Court project is something we initiated. We certainly do not mind the money coming from the Federal Government. This is a big project, a $15m project involving the refurbishment of some existing buildings, the construction of new buildings in quality urban design and the introduction of innovation in resource and energy efficiencies. Access to services such as transport and employment is a central feature of this development. It is an excellent development in keeping with this Government's commitment to community consultation. This project has also been widely discussed with the community, including existing tenants who are directly involved, the immediate neighbourhood, the Turner Residents Association and the local area planning advisory committee.

Demolition has been completed for the first three stages of the development. The building program is well under way. The first new units will be available progressively from December of this year. It is an excellent program. We have a number of other programs which we are currently undertaking. The final stage of the Ainslie Village redevelopment is proceeding, at a cost of about $1.95m. The old barrack-style accommodation blocks there, which date back to World War II, are being replaced with accommodation consistent with the style and material of that provided in the previous development phases.

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