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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 04 Hansard (Thursday, 1 April 2004) . . Page.. 1663 ..

obtained and the artwork is being fabricated. It is intended to be launched on Friday 7 May 2004 to co-incide with Metis – A Festival of Science and Art.

(3) The total cost of the project will be $77,000 + $7,700 GST = $84,700, as forecast in the original project budget.

Housing—building contracts
(Question No 1369)

Mr Stefaniak asked the Attorney-General, upon notice, on Tuesday, 9 March 2004:

(1) In relation to improved rights for home building consumers, is the Attorney-General aware of a new scheme in NSW where consumers who sign new contracts for building work of more than $12 000 are protected by a five day cooling off period;

(2) Is there a similar scheme operational in the A.C.T;

(3) If so, what are the details of the A.C.T scheme and how does it protect consumers; if not, would the Government consider introducing such a scheme in the A.C.T.

Ms Gallagher: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:

(1) I am aware of the provisions of the New South Wales Home Building Act 1989 and the recent amendments made to that Act, which commenced on 16 February 2004, to provide for, amongst other things, a five day cooling off period for home building contracts valued at more than $12,000;

(2) There is no similar scheme currently in operation in the ACT;

(3) Building disputes and the rights of consumers are an issue of concern to this Government. The ACT Office of Fair Trading has received a number of inquiries and complaints from consumers concerning disputes about building contracts. Officers from the Department of Justice and Community Safety, in consultation with officers from the ACT Planning and Land Authority, have been involved in a national project, under the auspices of the Ministerial Council on Consumer Affairs, examining a number of issues relating to home building that have arisen in recent years. The Department has also been closely monitoring the recent legislative developments in NSW and other jurisdictions around Australia and is currently considering these developments to determine whether to introduce protections for consumers entering into home building contracts in the ACT.

Molonglo River
(Question No 1370)

Mrs Dunne asked the Minister for Environment, upon notice:

(1) Why was the Molonglo River opened and then closed within the space of only a few days recently;

(2) What evidence was (a) presented to allow for the reopening of the river and (b) then presented forcing another closure;

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