Page 1343 - Week 04 - Thursday, 10 April 2008

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That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would enable discussion on the matter of public importance to proceed for one hour, notwithstanding the imminent automatic adjournment at 6 p.m.

MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Attorney-General, Minister for Police and Emergency Services) (5.56): Mr Speaker, the government will not be supporting this motion.

Question put:

That Mr Smyth’s motion be agreed to.

The Assembly voted—

Ayes 8

Noes 9

Mrs Burke

Mr Seselja

Mr Barr

Mr Hargreaves

Mrs Dunne

Mr Smyth

Mr Berry

Ms MacDonald

Dr Foskey

Mr Stefaniak

Mr Corbell

Ms Porter

Mr Mulcahy

Ms Gallagher

Mr Stanhope

Mr Pratt

Mr Gentleman

Question so resolved in the negative.

At 6.00 pm, in accordance with standing order 34, the motion for the adjournment of the Assembly was put.

Adjournment

Public housing

MR MULCAHY (Molonglo) (6.01): Mr Speaker, it is not often that I stand up in this place and commend the government for one of its decisions. But, as I mentioned in question time, it gives me pleasure to be able to speak today on the topic of public housing and in particular on the government’s recent decision to sell the Fraser Court housing complex. It will, of course, be a measured level of commendation, since I believe that there is far more work to be done in this area to solve the many problems that are occurring in ACT public housing properties.

Fraser Court is a dilapidated complex and is certainly in need of a great deal of maintenance. The complex has become an eyesore and is in stark contrast with the surrounding area. Moreover, the complex has become a considerable source of problems for the police and local residents. Like it or not, there have been a number of tenants in the complex who have caused trouble for others and who have added to the level of crime in the area. Of course, it is not comparable to the level of crime that has been witnessed in Stuart Flats, and I will have more to say on that issue in due course.

This reflects a general concern that I hear from many constituents about large public housing complexes in Australia. It is common to hear complaints of crime and unruly behaviour in such complexes. On radio the other day, I was pleased to hear from the minister that the government no longer supports the practice of building large public

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