Page 756 - Week 02 - Thursday, 12 February 2009
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MR HARGREAVES: Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I was asked a question about how Canberrans can have confidence that they will get their houses. Some $102 million, as I indicated the other day, is over and above the normal provision that we would be attempting to make. It is in addition to, for example, the time when we went to the community housing sector and gave them $140 million worth of stuff so they could borrow against it. It is in addition to, for example, the $50 million we gave for a revolving line of credit. It is in addition to, for example, when we put $10 million in the budget for three consecutive years to increase the stock. Now, over and above that will be the $102 million, and, as I indicated the other day, that is $96 million worth of actual bricks and mortar—new houses, new properties, new dwellings. What part of $96 million worth of new dwellings don't you understand?
The reason why these guys do not get it is two-fold: the first is that they are really diminutive parrots of their friends on the hill. They are opposing for the sake of opposing—
Members interjecting—
MR HARGREAVES: It takes me 15 seconds to get them in an uproar. What sort of self-control have they got? Absolutely none!
Mr Hanson: I'll speak to you about self-control, John.
MR HARGREAVES: Are you speaking to me? If you're speaking to me, don't waste your breath, sunshine! Mr Speaker, if these guys had bothered to check out what we actually said, they would know we are going to get $96 million worth of additional stuff.
What is in the pipeline? These guys would not know. All they ever do is ask questions. Sometimes it would be useful if they comprehended a few things. We have got brand new accommodation which is being built and for which development approval has been given. That means it can come on line quicker. We have got properties out there for which development approvals have been lodged and which can be sped up. There is a series of these sorts of things in the pipeline, Mr Speaker.
Visitor
MR SPEAKER: I would like to draw the attention of members to the presence of Mr Michael Moore, former member of the Assembly, in the gallery. Welcome, Mr Moore.
Questions without notice
Schools—early childhood
MS HUNTER: My question is to the minister for education regarding the enrolment numbers of the early childhood centres. Figures provided to me by your office show that on 20 January 2009 there were low enrolments for years 1 and 2 across the board for the early childhood centres, with no enrolments in these classes in the Lyons school. Could the minister please outline how these schools and classes, particularly in years 1 and 2, will function given such small student numbers.
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