Page 3083 - Week 08 - Thursday, 25 June 2009
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In conclusion, let me say that there is a long way to go in the Housing ACT space. We have to be very careful that we are not simply throwing money at it, as the minister says in his press release, but are actually delivering efficient and effective services on a needs basis. I agree with the minister that it has to be on a needs basis. We do not have unlimited funds; we do not have unlimited houses. We need to make sure that we have the right people in the right accommodation. I hope that the new information that they will be able to obtain, I believe from 1 July, with regard to tenants’ income—that that data does tell a story and a narrative that will help in the policy making process so that we can continue to ensure that we have the most deserving people in the right accommodation.
MS BRESNAN (Brindabella) (10.04): There is obviously a number of matters which fit under the policy portfolio of Housing ACT. They are obviously features of this budget and I will cover some of them in my comments. Housing ACT’s key priority over the next few months is to get on with delivering the $96 million for social housing that the federal government has made available with the twin aims of stimulating the economy and providing housing for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
This opportunity to invest a significant amount of funding into social housing—that is, public and community housing—is a rare opportunity. I have to say that, although it is federal money, the commonwealth has set very tight and inflexible time frames. I would also like to acknowledge the importance of the Greens in the Senate making sure that these buildings will be at least six star.
However, it has become clear that there is going to have to be much more effort in regard to those who have responsibility for developing housing to reach above the minimum efficiency design standards that are being set. Whenever the Greens’ staff have raised questions about lifting the quality of the housing that is constructed, we do get reminded that six-star performance is required, but I think a lot more can be done around that.
I was pleased to hear in the minister’s statement the other day that, following the Assembly’s support for the motion which the Greens put forward, the ACT government did seek guidance and advice from green building experts prior to putting together its proposals to the commonwealth government. I believe that the government could and should have acted much more quickly on this. We did start raising the issue of low emission building materials in about February, but as far as I can see we only got really concrete action on opening the government to more creative thinking on this after the Assembly passed the motion some months later.
The other element of that motion that has to some extent informed this package of social housing investment has been to work with relevant parts of the community sector. I did want the motion in the Assembly to call on the government to take a more collaborative approach. However, we were not able to get support from Labor or Liberal on this matter. Nonetheless, I would like to acknowledge that the government ran a number of events and processes to bring possible contractors into the loop and to be part of discussions. This ranged from established community housing providers to
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