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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 9 Hansard (28 August) . . Page.. 3359 ..

MR QUINLAN (continuing):

the Commonwealth can sell them to whomsoever it wishes. We thought it was a reasonable and commonsense proposition that we would have control.

MR SMYTH: Treasurer, is this the land that is to be used for the site of the new convention centre?

MR QUINLAN: Not necessarily, no. At this point in time, there are probably a number of sites that are possible locations for the placement of a convention centre. It is the one opposite the-

Mr Smyth: On the police station side.

MR QUINLAN: Yes.

Mr Smyth: Opposite City Hill.

MR QUINLAN: Opposite that one on which we do not know what will happen already, yes.

Mr Smyth: Opposite the Metropolitan and opposite the Rydges.

MR QUINLAN: Yes. No, that is not a site that we have particularly considered for a convention centre.

Housing-maintenance

MRS CROSS: Mr Speaker, my question is to the minister for ACT Housing, Mr Wood. Minister, ACT Housing has many tenants who look after their residences in an exemplary manner. I imagine that this is the majority of tenants, and it is sad that the small percentage of tenants who cause problems are those that inevitably get the media publicity.

As we know, ACT Housing has recently raised rents for its tenants. Some tenants are finding the increases very difficult to handle in money terms; others are very angry and they feel that they get no value for the extra money that they have difficulty finding. Many tenants have not seen a Housing officer for years; they have not had any inspections so they cannot show the degraded bathrooms or kitchens. These tenants are very keen to have their properties inspected, as they are very house proud. They also want to pass on any problems they have. They want to feel like valued tenants.

One constituent contacted me yesterday with a list of complaints concerning the inactivity of ACT Housing. This person is happy to pay the rent and, in fact, pays full market rent. This tenant is not behind in rent and never has been. ACT Housing is always behind in its maintenance, way behind.

Minister, ACT Housing is very happy to take money from its tenants and raise the rent yearly. When is ACT Housing going to live up to its responsibility as a landlord, keep up with maintenance, carry out inspections regularly and live up to its promises of upgrading bathrooms and kitchens made to some people over seven years ago?

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