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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 12 Hansard (12 November) . . Page.. 3453 ..

MS DUNDAS (continuing):

The first budget of the ALP government was an opportunity to make real changes to our ACT housing stock but, unfortunately, this did not occur. Despite a stamp duty windfall, the government has turned a blind eye to the poor and the homeless.

The budget provided $80,000 for the setting up of a lifeline service for people to ring when they are seeking emergency accommodation. This is to be compared with the Labor Party promise to increase the allocation to CARE for financial counselling to housing tenants by $50,000, which has not happened. They promised to increase by $50,000 the funding of an indigenous housing liaison service to help indigenous people with problem tenancies-this has not happened.

The Labor Party promised the introduction of development controls-the stipulation that a required percentage of low-cost housing be constructed as a condition for developmental approval-yet we have not seen any of this. Garden city and neighbourhood planning were options to make this promise a reality but, in all cases, the government has remained quiet. So, despite promises that the ALP would prioritise affordable housing, we are still hearing stories of families escaping domestic violence having to wait several weeks to get a place in a refuge-and stories of whole families living in cars.

As I have suggested in the past-and I hope the government will take it on board-the windfall gained from betterment tax and increased conveyancing duties should be spent on providing community and ACT public housing. The duty windfall of last year will continue this financial year. Why not take this money, earmark it and spend it on affordable housing?

Housing is vital to breaking the poverty cycle. What is the government doing-not saying, not reviewing but actually doing-to house and support the possible 300 Canberrans who sleep rough every night, and the countless others sleeping in temporary or unsafe accommodation? A promise to prioritise affordable housing is not a plaything to throw around this chamber for point scoring. There must be a real commitment to help those in need.

The other issue I wish to raise is the Gungahlin Drive extension, and how the Assembly has handled this issue over the past year. The Liberal Party has remained committed in its support for the environmentally devastating eastern option, and Ms Tucker, from the Greens party, has remained strong in advocating for no road at all.

The ACT Democrats went to the election supporting the western option. They have continued to work with the government and the community to ensure that the western option-or, as it is known, the community option-is delivered to help the people in Gungahlin.

I have been troubled by recent public statements by both the Chief Minister and the Minister for Planning, in trying to distance themselves from the final alignment of the Gungahlin Drive extension, putting the onus of responsibility on the National Capital Authority. I hope that this is not about preparing the community for a backflip or another broken promise. I believe the government needs to hold strong during its negotiations with the federal government to win approval for the community-backed western option.

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