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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 1 Hansard (20 February) . . Page.. 339 ..

MS GALLAGHER (continuing):

I would like to concentrate on the second part of the MPI, which is about adequate social support for tenants suffering hardship. Before I do so, I have listened to other contributors to the debate, and there are a couple of things I would like to say.

I do not play negative politics very well, but I could not sit here and believe that opposition members do not take any responsibility for the current situation we are facing in ACT Housing, considering the mass sell-off of stock in the five years from 1996 to 2001.

Mr Smyth: It was usage, in fact.

MR SPEAKER: Order, Mr Smyth!

MS GALLAGHER: Mr Smyth, I listened to you. I do not interject very often.

In relation to Ms Dundas's comments about the housing stock having been allowed to run down, we need to acknowledge that that stock came over from the Commonwealth in very rundown condition and that we have copped it. It is certainly not something we, as a government, blame the opposition for, but it is something we have been left with as a result of self-government.

In looking at some of the programs being put in place for public housing tenants who suffer hardship, I think it is important that we get on the record the variety of services in place in the ACT and acknowledge the work that is being done, whilst not discounting the fact that there is certainly unmet need that we all know about.

ACT Housing facilitates tenants gaining access to a wide range of government and community support services in the ACT. Other members have already talked about the five housing manager specialists who are employed. Everyone spoke about them very positively.

The main focus of the community linkages program is to link ACT Housing and community housing tenants to a range of support services, trying to promote safer living environments, more sustainable tenancies, improved social connectivity between residents and the community, and decreased poverty for public housing tenants.

The community linkages program provides funding to a range of community organisations, which in turn provide a preventing eviction program, financial counselling, strengths-based training, mobile mediation, and community development services. Examples include the employment of a community development worker at the Bega and Allawah Flats, and YWCA community development workers operating at other multiunit complexes. Funding of up to $25,000 per project is also provided to tenant groups for local activities.

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