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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 5 Hansard (15 May) . . Page.. 1502 ..

MR SPEAKER: The Minister does not need any help.

MS REILLY: It is page 133, Minister. You indicated in your answer that you think this seems to be a good idea. What action will you be taking in the ACT to counter the problems which this miserly action by the Federal Treasurer will create? It is likely that this will cause waiting lists to blow out even further and create more need for already stretched home support services.

MR STEFANIAK: Ms Reilly, naturally, yes, following the Federal Government budget, we will be looking very closely at any possible ramifications for the ACT; but, if the Federal Government's intention is as I suspect, I would not necessarily expect any real change to our situation. I hark back to the example I gave you. If, for example, a person in that situation got topped up by Federal rent assistance, and the Federal Government is trying now to redirect that money to people who need it more in the housing area, then I would not necessarily see any disadvantage to that person in terms of housing. If there is any disadvantage as a result of the Federal measures you are talking about which concern ACT Housing, we would naturally be looking at that, just as we would address any aspects of the Federal budget, be they positive ones in terms of where we can utilise some more money, or be they negative ones, such as less money being available in certain areas. We would assess the impact on us and consider what steps we could take to address the situation, bearing in mind that our duty is always to do the best we can for our tenants, which is something that ACT Housing has traditionally done very well. It continues to do so.

Mrs Carnell: I ask that all further questions be placed on the notice paper.

MR KAINE: Mr Speaker, I would like to provide an answer to a question asked earlier in the week by Ms Horodny. She is not here to hear it, but I guess she can read it in the Hansard. Her question had to do with why environmental groups such as the Conservation Council are not included in the membership of the Transport Reform Advisory Group when there was such membership on an earlier committee. Secondly, she asked why on this new group there are not any representatives of groups of public users, such as youth and the ageing.

The Transport Reform Advisory Group was convened only in April - last month - to provide advice and to make recommendations to government for improving the operational efficiency and effectiveness of public passenger transport services. The group is designed to deal with operational transport issues such as the introduction of accreditation for public passenger services and the accessibility of such transport services to the community, and the membership of the group reflects that charter. The group can, of course, invite other interested parties to meetings to present viewpoints on issues, as appropriate. For example, while there are community representatives there, they may not necessarily be directly representing the interests of the ageing, but the group can invite the representatives of the ageing if they believe that it is warranted.

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