Page 3105 - Week 08 - Thursday, 7 August 2008
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The scope of parliamentary scrutiny would be greater if there was a 12-month window for full start-up of the legislation and its subordinate instruments. The government claims it is not looking to radically change provider numbers in the first year. If so, there is no need to rush the legislation in to full start-up within six months. We believe there is no harm in giving the government that 12 months to get it right, and presumably it can still start earlier. If it gets done satisfactorily, then it could start earlier. We certainly believe this a reasonable amendment which will give the government the time it needs to make sure it gets it right.
MR HARGREAVES (Brindabella—Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Minister for Housing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (6.33): The government will not be agreeing to this amendment. It has got to be understood that registration cannot occur until the subordinate legislation is done. As with other parts of the housing portfolio, we do not do anything in the way of subordinate legislation without consulting those people affected. We have done that on numerous occasions before.
Our issue with this amendment is that the legislation can quite happily commence, but it will have absolutely no effect at all until people are registered in the context of that. They cannot become registered unless the subordinate legislation is in place. It is not as though this consultation process will encompass an extensive list of stakeholders. The stakeholder list is comparatively small, and I have all the confidence in the world that the consultation process will be effective.
Amendment negatived.
Clause 2 agreed to.
Clauses 3 to 5, by leave, taken together and agreed to.
Clause 6.
MR HARGREAVES (Brindabella—Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Minister for Housing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (6.34): I will be opposing this clause.
DR FOSKEY (Molonglo) (6.35): This amendment ensures that the controls that currently exist over approved housing assistance programs will still apply to programs that fund the activities of community and affordable housing providers under part 4A.
MR SPEAKER: Dr Foskey, we are debating clause 6, and Mr Hargreaves has indicated that he will oppose it.
DR FOSKEY: He is opposing clause 6, and I am agreeing with his amendment, which I am speaking to.
MR SPEAKER: Thank you.
DR FOSKEY: It would seem to me that clause 6, which this amendment omits, was an error which might have resulted in housing programs not being governed by the
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