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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 10 Hansard (23 September) . . Page.. 3162 ..

MR TEMPORARY DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! It being 5.00 pm, I propose the question:

That the Assembly do now adjourn.

Mrs Carnell: I require the question to be put forthwith without debate.

Question resolved in the negative.

Debate resumed.

MR KAINE: In terms of other transport, the Government has agreed to a two-year trial of high occupancy maxi taxis provided by Aerial Taxis. This increases the flexibility of the overall taxi fleet, and it has the potential to provide groups of older citizens with an alternative form of door-to-door transport at a very competitive fare. Legislation passed by this Assembly only this morning enhanced parking arrangements for persons with disabilities, and this includes many of the ageing. This legislation formalises existing parking practices that provide real benefits to many older citizens.

In housing - this is a point that Ms Reilly made much of - since March 1993, out of the 461 new housing units provided by ACT Housing, 46 have been aged persons units. APUs now amount to about one-tenth of the total public housing portfolio. In its provisions of APUs the aim of ACT Housing has been to meet the changing needs of older Canberrans. They provide purpose designed units in various parts of Canberra. Units are designed for the safety and amenity of tenants. They are located at a maximum distance of 400 metres from shopping and service facilities. So it simply is not true to say that the Government is not doing something to satisfy this need. As part of the 1997-98 budget ACT Housing is providing $50,000 to assist the Council on the Ageing with the appointment of a housing options adviser. The adviser will be responsible for collecting and distributing housing information to older persons, advising older people of the range of housing options available to them and letting them know of the broad financial options and specific financial advice available to them, and providing advocacy services to older citizens.

Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, a recent joint initiative between government agencies and the Council on the Ageing is a community liaison advisory program known by its acronym of CLASP. A survey of the elderly conducted by the Council on the Ageing in 1996 indicated that the elderly had some concerns about their personal safety in and around their homes. In conjunction with the ACT Fire Brigade, the Australian Federal Police and the ACT Ambulance Service, a program was developed and directed towards identifying

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