Page 4252 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 16 November 2005
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accommodation. What are you going to do with Currong? Again, there is no management. This amendment should not be accepted by the Assembly because Mr Hargreaves has not proved why we should accept it.
MRS BURKE (Molonglo) (5.23): It is interesting that the government is never able to play a straight bat on these things. This fundamentally changes the whole focus of this motion today. Mr Hargreaves continues to live in the past. The wording of this motion simply refers to past actions. Minister, you are going to stand up and give us the whole list of what you have done. I call on you to alleviate the pressure on public housing waiting lists by assisting and encouraging public housing tenants, wherever possible, to move into the private rental market or home ownership and improve the management of the government’s housing asset base, particularly with regard to the redevelopment or rejuvenation of government owned multiunit complex sites.
As you know, minister, I always give credit where it is due. I acknowledge that some things have been done, but I still say that this wording is an absolute fob off. It is just a blanket cover for your ineptitude in the management of this portfolio. We are now four years into your government and we have seen very little change or movement in the waiting lists. Do not tell me you did a review. Well, a review was done and we saw the figures come down, but that is in the past. People moved off the list were only those who were not needing public housing anyway, or those who had moved elsewhere.
Mr Hargreaves interjecting—
MRS BURKE: That is a false indication of the true and present situation, which remains critical. I know your staff go to ACT Shelter meetings but I do not know how often you go. We are hearing ad nauseam every month we go to that meeting about the crisis within crisis and emergency accommodation. We hear lots of talk and we see lots of glossy brochures. I mention the various plans the government has out there in the hope that one day we may see some real action, but we are tinkering around the edges. We might be doing some good things with regard to tenants but this does not relate to that, minister. Fundamentally, you have tried to craftily say what you have done, not what you are going to do. It is always a case of, “We have done this and we have done that.” Quite frankly, as Mr Smyth said, you are now trying to skirt around the fact that there is no more money to do anything. Capital works money has all been spent and there is no more money there.
Mr Hargreaves: That is bollocks—absolute bollocks!
MRS BURKE: Pardon?
Mr Hargreaves: It is bollocks.
MRS BURKE: On a point of order, Mr Speaker, I would ask Mr Hargreaves to refrain from using such language in the chamber.
MR SPEAKER: I did not hear it, I am sorry.
MRS BURKE: Mr Hargreaves knows what he said. If he wants to lower the tone of the debate, then that is his problem.
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