Page 390 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 15 February 2005
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So we now have a fund in the ACT worth $30 million, which will lead to a range of very positive outcomes in the territory, which I have touched on.
I want to impress on members just how important these initiatives are in strengthening and diversifying our economy. We have always known we had the basic building blocks for success. Now we are talking substantial, positive, genuine steps towards exploiting the resources that we have in ensuring that Canberra benefits from those resources as much as we can.
Bushfires—rebuilding
MRS BURKE: My question is to the Minister for Disability, Housing and Community Services. Minister, given that the National Capital Authority has advised the ACT government that the houses lost at Pierces Creek in the 2003 bushfires can be rebuilt, will you advise the Assembly what you are personally doing to expedite rebuilding and repatriating people back to where they lived, two years or more after the event?
MR STANHOPE: I will take that question.
Mr Hargreaves: I was just about to give Mrs Burke a flogging, Chief Minister, but after you.
MRS BURKE: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Who is going to answer the question?
MRS BURKE: The question is on public housing tenants, with respect.
MR STANHOPE: The question relates to bushfire recovery, in particular the rebuilding of destroyed rural villages, and I have administrative responsibility for that area. If Mrs Burke were to view the administrative arrangements order, she would see that I have administrative responsibility for Stromlo, Uriarra and Pierces Creek. In any event, I will take the question, Mr Speaker.
The government is very pleased with progress in relation to the rural villages of Stromlo and Uriarra and, indeed, with the state of negotiations in relation to Pierces Creek. As members would be aware, the government is particularly pleased, as should all members of the community be, that the ACT government and the commonwealth have agreed that Uriarra village should be rebuilt to the tune of 100 houses. That is a fantastic result for the residents of Uriarra who lost their homes.
Mrs Dunne: On a point of order, Mr Speaker: Mrs Burke did not ask a question in relation to bushfire recovery. She asked a specific question in relation to Pierces Creek. It is a rural village. Under standing order 118, the Chief Minister should confine himself to answering the question, which was about Pierces Creek.
MR SPEAKER: On the point of order, the rebuilding or otherwise of Pierces Creek is a matter that is being dealt with as part of the bushfire recovery. The Chief Minister is entitled to give supplementary information.
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