Page 2618 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 25 September 2007
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standard tenancy term 52—a tenancy term that the Liberal Party will have to repeal—provides that a lessor, in this case ACT Housing, must not cause or permit any interference with the reasonable peace, comfort or privacy of a tenant in the tenant’s use of the premises. It used to be known as the old adage: a man’s home is his castle. Excuse the gender specific language there, but it is now actually referred to as standard tenancy term 52. The Liberal Party would need to repeal that standard tenancy term.
Standard tenancy term 53 says that the tenant has exclusive possession of the premises unless otherwise agreed in writing. That standard tenancy term will have to be repealed under Mrs Burke’s housing policy, which provides for the unannounced entry, without warrant and without suspicion, of any—
Opposition members interjecting—
MR STANHOPE: It is there in the press release. It is Liberal Party policy. I heard Mrs Burke expounding on radio that she believes it is fundamentally important, to protect tenants, that their quiet enjoyment of their homes actually be breached.
Mrs Burke’s Liberal Party policy position on public housing is not to extend to the private sector. There are two classes of people and two classes of tenants. There are public housing tenants who are to be subjected to unannounced spot checks to determine whether or not they are engaged in illegal activity and criminal activity. This is the new Liberal Party policy, to apply only to public housing tenants. It is there in writing, it is odious and, of course, it is highly discriminatory that public housing tenants need in some way this level of government interference or interference by the state.
Just ponder it. We do see some of the embarrassment of the Liberal Party in relation to this announced policy, a policy that the Liberal Party would implement in government, were it to come to government, that all public housing tenants are to be subject to unannounced, not approved, not agreed spot checks.
Mr Smyth: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. Again the minister is debating the question. Under standing order 118 (b) he cannot debate. He was asked about the protections that currently exist.
Members interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Order! The minister was asked to give some examples of the protections that would be required and he is drawing a fair contrast with statements that have been issued by the Liberal Party.
Mrs Dunne: He wasn’t asked to draw a fair contrast.
Mrs Burke: Let him; I’m loving it.
MR STANHOPE: Mrs Burke is loving it. If she is loving it, I will refer to the formal policy statement released by the Acting Leader of the Opposition. Mrs Burke says, “It is quite unbelievable that these activities have gone on unnoticed by housing
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