Page 1363 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 25 March 2009
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Leave granted.
MS BRESNAN: I move:
(1) omit paragraph (1)(d), substitute:
“(d) that non-government affordable housing providers are not necessarily a subsector of social or community housing; and”;
(2) omit paragraph (2), substitute:
“(2) recognises that the Nation Building and Jobs Plan must meet the requirements of and be delivered within the timeframes set by the Commonwealth.”; and
(3) add:
“(3) calls on the ACT Government, prior to issuing tenders for stage two of the project at the end of this financial year, to:
(a) conduct a consultation forum to provide further advice on the commissioning and construction of affordable, energy efficient, low emission housing; and
(b) initiate an ongoing process of engagement with community housing providers, key community service agencies, and relevant advocacy and peak representative bodies on issues pertinent to social housing issues, including the proposed mix of housing projects and the capacity of the community housing sector.”.
MR HARGREAVES (Brindabella—Minister for Disability and Housing, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Corrections) (6.08): I welcome the opportunity to speak on this motion. Before I do, though, I would like to put on the record one thing that I think is a misunderstanding, perhaps. Other members who are not familiar with the arrangements may also not be aware of it. When community housing providers charge 75 per cent of the market rate they do not necessarily charge the tenant 75 per cent of the market rate. The tenant actually is in receipt of the commonwealth rental assistance, which picks up the difference. The community housing provider actually gets 75 per cent of the market rate but there is a portion from the tenant and the rest is from commonwealth rental assistance. So that needs to be taken into account when we consider the thing.
There is no doubt that the federal government’s nation building and jobs plan establishes a clear agenda for reform, and I welcome the reform direction for social housing. It is the direction we have been going in the ACT for the past five years under the Stanhope government. Reform direction embodies choice for tenants and support appropriate to their needs. It is also about providing housing that is water and energy efficient so that the energy costs of those on low incomes can be contained. And of course, governments and community are able to tackle the problems of climate change.
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