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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 6 Hansard (16 May) . . Page.. 1743 ..
MR STEFANIAK (continuing):
Tomorrow I am hosting a forum on homelessness, with all the interested groups, including ACTCOSS, attending. I will be very interested in what they have to say, and I will be more than happy to pass on our deliberations to the minister. Some people are in desperate need of accommodation.
Housing is the key building block in our society. I agree entirely with the minister when he says that health, education and employment outcomes all depend on people having adequate shelter. It is very difficult to operate successfully if you do not have a roof over your head. It is hard enough for a single person. It is even harder for families. The crisis that is developing in our community is something this government needs to be aware of and do something about.
MS TUCKER (4.36): As chair of the former Select Committee on Housing, I find it slightly surprising and interesting that Mr Stefaniak should say that he is now suddenly very interested in these issues. I have been raising them for seven years. They were not so interesting when the Liberals were in government. That seems to be happening in most areas of concern. Maybe it is just what happens in politics, but it is starting to become like a Monty Python film.
Mr Wood said that all recommendations of the select committee are to be looked at by the Housing Advisory Committee, including those on security of tenure. I understood Labor's position to be absolutely clear that they would reinstate security of tenure, and Mr Wood has said that he will.
I am concerned that another inquiry is now being carried out. The select committee had an inquiry, and it was pretty clear what people thought. Labor supported the recommendations of the inquiry. We want to see action rather than more reviews, although there is work to be done on exactly how some of the recommendations could be put into practice.
The review of the Residential Tenancies Act is a housekeeping review. I stress the importance of ensuring that that is a consultative process. After talking about that review, Mr Wood talked about his commitment to working with community stakeholders. Perhaps that means that the review will include those stakeholders.
(Quorum formed.)
Question resolved in the affirmative.
ActewAGL
Discussion of matter of public importance
MR SPEAKER: I have received a letter from Ms Tucker proposing that a matter of public importance be submitted to the Assembly, namely:
The need for the Government, as the half owner of ActewAGL, to promote ecological sustainability and social responsibility in ActewAGL's operations.
MS TUCKER
(4.40): I have raised this matter of public importance today because I have been greatly troubled by the offhand responses that the Treasurer, Mr Quinlan, has
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