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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 11 Hansard (6 November) . . Page.. 3768 ..

MS REILLY (continuing):

many people would be disadvantaged. Information on the changes that I moved earlier this year to the Landlord and Tenant Act in relation to public housing tenants was not conveyed to the public tenants. This area is even broader and more important at this time, and we must ensure that there is a properly set up community education program.

Apart from the need to have some education program ongoing, in the long term we have to have a proper and well-resourced advocacy service set up to assist tenants and to ensure that they are aware of their rights and responsibilities under this Act. If we do not give proper resources to organisations like the Tenants Union and, on the other side, the REI, it will not help the people who are working in and living under this system. We cannot just introduce the legislation, have a bit of education and forget about it. It is important that everybody who is concerned in this continues to be informed of their rights and responsibilities across the board. (Extension of time granted)I want to emphasise the importance of continuing community education and advocacy in this area. It is an ongoing need for all of the different players in this, not just public and private tenants. All the other people who are working in this industry should be informed about what is going on.

Generally, the Labor Party is going to support the legislation, although we will look at several clauses. I think it is important that we recognise the work that has been done to get this legislation to this phase, and I thank all those concerned.

MR MOORE (5.30): Mr Speaker, I could make a very long speech repeating many of the things that Ms Tucker and Ms Reilly have said, but I would prefer that they be taken as said. Generally, I agree with what they are doing. There will be a couple of differences that will become apparent in the detail stage. It seems to me, Mr Speaker, that it has taken too long to get this Bill here. The original reference to the Community Law Reform Committee was in September 1990, and here we are, seven years later, finally considering legislation that deals with some of the most critical balances of power between landlords and tenants - a critical part of people's everyday lives in terms of where and how they can live.

I would like to draw attention to the assistance that I have had in the work here, not only from Ms Reilly, Ms Tucker and her staff, and my own staff, but also from Mr Peter Sutherland, who has been particularly helpful to me in understanding some of the issues associated with the legislation that we have before us. Mr Sutherland is in the gallery today and I would like to acknowledge his work. I know that other members are also very appreciative of the work and effort that he has put in, and I seek acknowledgment from other members to that effect.

Ms Reilly went through a number of areas on which we still need to do work. One area that I believe she did not mention but that needs to be included is caravans and mobile homes that are located in caravan parks. That is another area that we need to look at in the future. I shall deal with other issues in the detail stage of the Bill. I would like to congratulate the Minister for finally getting the legislation on the table, and all members for working together to try to get the best possible outcomes for all the residents of the ACT. That is what this place is about.

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