Page 1582 - Week 05 - Thursday, 8 May 2008
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
Registration will be governed by a set of appropriate registration and monitoring processes. This will include the registration of existing providers as well as allowing entry by new providers, including organisations from other jurisdictions.
The regulatory framework will monitor risks to service quality and tenancy and asset management practices, areas where poor performance would not necessarily trigger action under other legislation.
The framework will ensure that the territory’s substantial investment in the sector, including transferred stock and new stock developed through subsidies and concessions provided by the ACT government, is preserved for future generations. This will ensure that the residual interest of the territory continues to be used for affordable housing purposes even in the absence of any contractual relationship.
The framework provides for proportionate regulation based on risk with a focus on service quality, governance and protection of vulnerable clients. Higher risk activities will be subject to greater oversight—for example, property development as opposed to tenancy management. The risk assessment will consider the type, scale and experience with activities to be undertaken and the history of the organisation, including recent growth.
Regulatory processes will monitor the activities of not-for-profit housing providers on a whole-of-organisation basis and will be complementary with other regulatory and reporting requirements.
This bill will empower the housing commissioner to exercise step-in powers as a last resort. These powers will be exercised in accordance with an intervention guideline, only after the failure of attempts to resolve issues with providers. These will enable the housing commissioner to:
• appoint people to the governing body of a registered agency;
• appoint an administrator to control and direct the registered agency; wind up and distribute the assets of a registered agency; and
• de-register housing providers that have breached a condition of registration.
The bill will establish a regulatory framework that complements the work the government is undertaking to provide more affordable housing for those members of our community who are in housing stress or need.
It will strengthen the government’s capacity to encourage private sector involvement in affordable housing by assuring investors that there is a comprehensive oversight of the risks being taken by not-for-profit organisations.
In summary, regulation of the sector is necessary for the benefit of the Canberra community, to:
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .