Page 3936 - Week 10 - Thursday, 28 August 2008
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Leave granted.
MR HARGREAVES: This variation extends the agreement by six months. Section 31 of the Housing Assistance Act 2007 provides that, where the territory enters into or amends a commonwealth-territory funding agreement, the agreement or amendment is a notifiable instrument. The variation has been notified on the legislation register in accordance with the Legislation Act.
The 2003 Commonwealth-State Housing Agreement between the commonwealth, the states and territories commenced on 1 July 2003 for a period of five years ending on 30 June 2008. This period has now been extended until 31 December 2008 with the agreement of all jurisdictions, including the ACT.
Additional commonwealth funding of $9.616 million for the period 1 July 2008 to 31 December 2008 will be made available to the ACT. For its part, the ACT has agreed to provide $4.27 million by way of “territory contribution” for this period. This contribution has been notified to the commonwealth in accordance with clause 4 (32) of the revised agreement.
The extended agreement has been signed by the commonwealth government and all state and territory governments and has been tabled in the Australian parliament. The terms and conditions of the agreement will be maintained during the period of the extension, pending the development of a new national affordable housing agreement. The Australian government has committed to work cooperatively with state and territory governments and the Australian Local Government Association to negotiate a national affordable housing agreement to replace the current Commonwealth-State Housing Agreement.
It is intended that this new agreement will address the serious and entrenched problems of housing affordability throughout our nation. Amongst other things, it is expected to help secure the viability of the social housing sector, increase housing affordability for private renters and homeowners, and improve housing opportunities for Indigenous people.
I have tabled a copy of the deed encompassing the “variation of the 2003 Commonwealth-State Housing Agreement”, and I commend the revised agreement to the Assembly.
Indigenous education performance report
Paper and statement by minister
MR BARR (Molonglo—Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Planning, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Minister for Industrial Relations): For the information of members, pursuant to the resolution of the Assembly of 24 May 2000, as amended on 16 February 2006, I present the following paper:
Performance in Indigenous Education—Interim report—January to June 2008.
I seek leave to make a statement in relation to the paper.
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