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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 14 Hansard (11 December) . . Page.. 5262 ..

MR WOOD (continuing):

people in difficult but irregular situations-specifically refugees on temporary protection visas; and

students enrolled to study at ACT education institutions, although not living or working in the ACT.

In a spirit of cooperation and goodwill, Mr Speaker, I am glad to announce that Ms Tucker and I discussed her proposed amendment and were able to reach an agreement that addresses a number of her concerns. As a result, Ms Tucker withdrew her proposed amendment and I undertook to bring forward an amendment to the rental bonds program reflecting the substance of the agreement we had reached.

The amendment I am tabling today significantly broadens the focus of the public housing rental assistance program. In conjunction with an amendment to the public rental housing assistance program, which I will also table, the changes to the bonds program will:

increase the qualifying income criteria by more than 30 per cent for single person households and by 10 per cent for households of two or more;

enable the Commissioner for Housing to make more explicit provision through a program determination to assist disadvantaged groups such as temporary protection visa holders who have time-limited Australian resident status;

ease the ACT residence criteria to include people who are enrolled to study at an ACT educational institution in addition to those who live or work in the ACT; and

increase the time limits within which an applicant may seek a review of a decision under the program or provide further information requested by the commissioner.

Mr Speaker, as I have previously indicated in this Assembly, the government had no problems with Ms Tucker's desire to broaden and improve the program. Indeed, it was our intention to review the program after it operated for about 12 months. Although the government was unable to support all of Ms Tucker's proposals, I believe we have gone a significant way to making the program more responsive to the needs of a wider range of people, consistent with Ms Tucker's concerns.

As I have already indicated, in conjunction with the amendment of the rental bonds program, I am also tabling an amendment to the public rental housing assistance program. Some of the changes to the bonds program have also flowed through to the public rental program. It is important to preserve as far as possible the common eligibility criteria between these two programs.

Also, on 18 November this year, in conjunction with my statement in this Assembly, I publicly announced a series of reforms to the public rental program aimed at removing barriers to public housing and maintaining sustainable tenancy. Some of these reforms require formal changes to this program, which members will know operates under the Housing Assistance Act. Indeed, that is the principal mechanism through which public housing assistance is provided.

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