Page 3687 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 23 August 2011
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
which are some of the biggest energy users in the household, with more energy efficient appliances.
This government is partnering with organisations like the Salvation Army, Communities@Work and St Vincent de Paul to deliver these programs. I bet Mr Smyth has not fronted up to the chief executive of St Vincent de Paul and spoken to him about that great program they are delivering that is delivering support to low income households to improve energy efficiency. I bet he has not told them that he voted against it, but he did. He is on the record as saying that he opposed that program. He opposed $4.4 million of assistance designed for low income households to improve their water and energy efficiency. He voted against it, because they opposed the budget and all of the measures in it, including this one.
Let us look at the hypocrisy. Let us remember the hypocrisy of the Liberal Party’s position on the issue of cost of living. They make the bland and politically populist assertion that “things are bad; we care about cost of living pressures”. But they voted against the increase in the energy concession, they voted against the increase in the water concession and they voted against the outreach program to assist low income households. They have no credibility on this issue.
A serious and dedicated Labor government is focusing on low income households and is working to provide them with the support they need and deserve.
MADAM ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Mrs Dunne): The time for this matter of public importance discussion has expired.
Residential Tenancies (Databases) Amendment Bill 2011
Detail stage
Clause 1.
Debate resumed.
Clause 1 agreed to.
Remainder of bill, by leave, taken as a whole.
MR RATTENBURY (Molonglo) (4.31), by leave: I move amendments Nos 1 to 10 circulated in my name together [see schedule 2 at page 3701].
I thank members for giving me leave to move the amendments together. I think it will speed up debate. I advise members, in case they have not noticed, that a revised version has been circulated this afternoon in light of the conversation that was had during the break today and over the intervening period. I have moved the amendments together because a number, in particular, are grouped together. I will speak first of all about amendments 1, 2, 4 to 6 and 8 to 10. These amendments can be explained as a group of amendments that give greater certainty and protection to tenants without increasing the obligations on the landlords or their agents.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video