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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 7 Hansard (5 June) . . Page.. 1979 ..

MR WOOD (continuing):

It is important for community housing tenants in the ACT to be able to express their views. I would like to thank all the community housing organisations, and the tenants, who participated in the survey.

While this is the second year a national customer satisfaction survey has been conducted for community housing tenants, this is the first year that reliable results have been available for the ACT. Thanks must go also to the peak body for community housing-the Coalition of Community Housing Organisations for the ACT, which was actively involved in supporting the ACT's involvement in this survey.

The report also highlights the important role of community housing in the provision of affordable housing. One of the major reasons why ACT respondents moved into community housing was because they could not afford to rent in the private rental market. The lack of affordable housing is a continuing issue and one which will be addressed by the affordable housing task group.

Australian Ethical Investment Ltd

MS TUCKER (5.50): I would like to briefly put on the record my congratulations to Australian Ethical Investment Ltd, which was awarded the Banksia Environmental Award. That is arguably the country's highest award for environmental achievement. Australian Ethical Investment Ltd is a public company dedicated to the growth of ethical investment in Australia. It operates four public unit trusts and a superannuation fund. It has a shareholder base of 135, and serves a rapidly growing client base of around 10,000 ethical investors, with approximately $200m in funds under management.

It is good to see the work acknowledged. The group was awarded the Banksia Environmental Award for socially responsible investment. It is important to see this work acknowledged because, through an ethical investment opportunity, people can invest their money in a way that is consistent with the principles by which they try to live. Therefore, this is an important opportunity for anybody who has money to invest. It is also a very solid investment when it comes to returns.

The Greens have raised the question of how the ACT government can look at investing public money into ethical investments. This has reasonable support in a quiet way, I think from both sides. I have heard Ted Quinlan give merit to the idea. I am looking forward to seeing that idea progress.

Brumbies rugby union team

MR SMYTH (5.52): Mr Speaker, I think it would be a shame if none of us rose in this place this week to acknowledge the outstanding efforts of the Brumbies in Christchurch recently. To go down 31/13 after a topsy-turvy season was, I think, disappointing for all, particularly for the 130-odd Brumbies supporters who jumped on the plane and went to Christchurch. That included the Deputy Chief Minister and minister for tourism, Mr Quinlan, who is also the minister for sport.

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