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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 12 Hansard (20 November) . . Page.. 4411 ..

MR SPEAKER: Order!

MR QUINLAN: When I first came into this portfolio of tourism, the longest queue at my door was that of tourism industry representatives and it was a disparate industry. Since that time, we have worked with them, we have restructured CTEC and it is working a lot better now than it was then. Even the AHA, last week-

Opposition members interjecting-

MR SPEAKER: Resume your seat, Mr Quinlan. Mr Smyth, I have drawn to your attention the need to observe order in the place. I said I would warn you and I therefore warn you.

MR QUINLAN: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I will conclude by saying that we are very pleased with the ground that we have made up in tourism after inheriting a shambles.

Homelessness

MR HARGREAVES: My question is to the minister for housing. We have heard much rhetoric from members of the opposition about homelessness, despite the fact that they did nothing about it when they were in government, except sell off much needed stock. In contrast, this government is committed to the improvement of services addressing homelessness and has budgeted $13.4 million over four years to tackle the causes and effects of homelessness. Minister, can you explain how the first allocation of this money will be spent?

MR WOOD: Yes, I can. Earlier this week, I announced a series of reforms aimed at removing barriers to accessing public housing as well as maintaining sustainable tenancies. These measures address a number of the identified causes of homelessness and have been welcomed by community agencies.

Today, at lunchtime, I launched a new crisis accommodation service at Ainslie Village. It will provide accommodation for up to seven single men experiencing homelessness or at risk of it. This service will increase the ACT's crisis accommodation capacity by extending the range of accommodation options for men. Today, very importantly, I also announced the allocation of $2.7 million for new services and support for homeless people in the ACT. This funding is the first allocation from the $13.4 million over four years for which the government has budgeted. It follows the development of a strategy; so the money has been well-targeted.

The government will be substantially boosting funding to the Canberra Emergency Accommodation Service, which is provided on our behalf by Anglicare and Lifeline. More than $265,000 is to be provided over the financial year for overnight and short-term accommodation for people in crisis, including the provision of on-site vans and motel rooms. The service is based on the 24-hour crisis referral service that ultimately links clients to longer term, secure accommodation.

We will also be providing the Canberra Emergency Accommodation Service-CEAS, as we like to call it-with $158,625, amounting to $423,000 over four years, to assist

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