Page 3246 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 16 August 2011
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MR SPEAKER: Yes, Ms Le Couteur.
MS LE COUTEUR: Minister, you talked about the affordable housing in greenfield estates, but considerable development is happening in non-greenfield estates. How is the government trying to get affordable housing in infill sites?
MR BARR: The combination of policy objectives will work to achieve that goal, noting of course that in some areas the value of land makes housing affordability difficult to achieve—that is well understood—but there are a range of policy settings, most particularly around encouraging supply in areas that are targeted for urban intensification. Those have been highlighted and discussed at some length in this place, but they primarily relate to the CBD in the Northbourne Avenue corridor up to the Dickson group centre, town centres along major transport routes and within group centres and, to a certain extent—although I believe that this should not be the major driver of infill development—within RZ2 zones across the city.
The government’s focus is to align our planning and taxation policies through a number of different settings to focus urban development and urban renewal in those areas where the additional population can be sustained and, in fact, where that additional population will enhance the use of existing infrastructure and provide a compelling economic case to invest further in things like new public transport infrastructure, for example, and to support the ongoing vibrancy of the city and small business, particularly in areas of retail and hospitality.
Bimberi Youth Justice Centre—staff
MR DOSZPOT: My question is to the Minister for Children and Young People. Minister, I refer to a report into Bimberi by the Human Rights Commission which says:
In the Commission’s staff survey, out of 18 current and former staff, 16 reported that communication between staff and management was either ‘bad’ or ‘very bad’. Fifteen out of 18 reported that they did not feel valued or respected by management.
Further, recommendation 4.13 recommends that CSD consult with Bimberi staff to address culture concerns and to consider the appointment of a consultant to work with staff and management to develop a positive culture. Minister, given this was a critical issue in the crisis at Bimberi, has this recommendation been addressed? If not, why not?
MS BURCH: I thank Mr Doszpot for his question. Change management and a feeling of being supported were identified towards the latter part of last year, as I said in answer to an earlier question. That is why we recruited and put into place the services of Danny O’Neill. He has been working with the youth workers out there since the latter part of last year. Also in the report, as recognised and noted by all staff, are the positive changes that have been in place over the last number of months. I think we need to build on that. Certainly the climate change of staff support and staff retention has improved over the last number of months.
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