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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 7 Hansard (29 June) . . Page.. 2332 ..

MR SMYTH (continuing):

have had praise from Mr Berry, an admission of Labor's failure from Mr Corbell and some praise from Mr Wood.

I will start with Mr Wood. Praise from Mr Wood is worth having, because he is always balanced in his comments. The $60 million refurbishment of the big flats may not take 10 years. We have to manage the vacancy rate to allow us to move people around so that we can refurbish. The ecumenical housing report is a tremendous start on addressing the problems. I thank you for your acknowledgment of that. It is about shuffling and, as we sell properties, reinvesting the money. We will do that.

Mr Speaker, you have reappeared in the chair. Before Ms Tucker leaves the chamber it is very important that she hear what I am about to say. Several speakers tonight raised concerns about funding for the environment. In 1997-98 we spent $21,344,000 on the environment; in 1998-1999, $22,787,000; and in 1999-2000, $23,104,000. The budget for the next financial year is $23,830,000, and that does not take into account grants money that we pick up from varying sources. The money for the environment has gone up every year, and there should be acknowledgment of that. They are figures that were presented to the Estimates Committee. Ms Tucker said she is not sure whether she chooses to believe them, but that is the reality. Money for the environment has gone up every year under this government, and people should welcome that. We are committed to the environment.

Ms Tucker doubts the government's commitment to controlling greenhouse gas emissions. I will not boast about what we have done. Let us see what ICLEI and its Cities for Climate Protection, the international organisation that is encouraging all jurisdictions and governments to do the right thing for the environment, said about the ACT. They have given us four out of five stars. That is the highest rating of any jurisdiction or city in this country. The ACT, by their judgment, is doing a good job.

Ms Tucker raised some questions about whether we are doing enough in housing. We have the $60 million refurbishment. We are getting rid of some of the worst concentrations we have. Macpherson Court has gone, Lachlan Court has gone, and Burnie Court will be refurbished. We have built the APUs we promised. We have helped set up CHC and transferred 200 houses to it, and will transfer more. We are upgrading the properties ACT Housing controls, to bring them up to good environmental standards. We have the youth task force. I thank Ms Tucker for acknowledging that-perhaps some more lycanthropy. People are changing shape all over the place.

We are committed to carrying out our plans, and a lot will be done through the youth sector. Where we can we will take on board and put in place suggestions made by the youth sector. Already we have the youth housing officer, and we are looking at models of boarding house accommodation.

We have had housing seminars with the industry to make sure they are building the sort of housing we can purchase and use. We have had the adaptable housing seminar and the adaptable housing competition, and we are now building models of adaptable housing at Belconnen. We have the shortest waiting list and we are proud of that. We have the quickest turnovers and we are proud of that. We are improving the quality of service with the new computer system we put in to look after clients. If we have to change the type and location of stock to meet the needs of clients, we will do that.

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