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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 11 Hansard (6 November) . . Page.. 3764 ..

MS TUCKER (continuing):

should recognise is that any tenancy agreement should come under the coverage of this legislation when the occupant of the premises regards the premises as their home. The Social Policy Committee examined the issue of supported accommodation for people with disabilities in its recently completed inquiry into the Commonwealth-State Disability Agreement. What is becoming clear is that there is growing concern about an agency being responsible for both support and housing. It is important that, despite the fact that someone is in need of assistance of some kind, they still receive adequate safeguards as tenants.

Mr Speaker, finally, I would like to foreshadow amendments which I will be moving, which members have had for some time, and which are aimed at improving energy and water efficiency of rental housing in the ACT. It is an issue of general concern that, in general, there are no minimum standards in the private rental market. The reality, particularly for many low- and middle-income earners, is that the market does not offer very much choice. For many people there is no such thing as voting with your feet. The lack of regulation means that many tenants are forced to trade off affordability against the standard of the accommodation. As we all know, and as I have talked about already today, Canberra's housing stock is ill-equipped for our climate. The energy inefficiency of rental housing means that tenants who have no control over the appliances or general efficiency of the dwelling are forced to pay higher bills. Obviously, this is an equity issue as much as an environmental issue. A similar situation applies in relation to water appliances and fittings.

I will be moving amendments that will help provide more information to tenants about the energy efficiency of dwellings by requiring lessors, as a pre-contractual obligation, to provide a copy of an energy efficiency rating statement, more commonly known as the home energy star rating. Over time, I believe that this will provide a more informed market about energy efficiency in the rental market, and will provide some incentive to lessors to upgrade the energy efficiency of dwellings. I am also seeking to include provisions requiring lessors, when they have to replace an appliance, fitting or fixture that uses or supplies water, to ensure that that appliance is of a AA water efficiency standard.

MS REILLY (5.14): In the first instance in relation to this Bill I want to thank everyone who has been involved with its development. It has been a very interesting process, as Ms Tucker said, to watch the cooperation that has gone on in trying to get the amendments agreed upon. I am thankful for the assistance from the Attorney-General and the members of his department for the drafting that has been done in the last few days.

This Bill has an extremely long history. The reference to the Community Law Reform Committee was back in 1990. We need to thank the various members who were involved through the Community Law Reform Committee for the very extensive work they did and the reports that they put up. Considering when they started, I am sure some of them are quite amazed that we have finally reached the stage of having this Bill before us in November 1997. The delay has meant that we have been able to pick up a number of issues that are important for the broad range of renters in the ACT.

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