Page 5022 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 26 October 2011
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discussed through cabinet, and the information, I am sure, will come through when we further discuss the details and the cost of that bill.
MR SPEAKER: Ms Bresnan, a supplementary.
MS BRESNAN: Minister, given that you must have also closely considered that data, on what basis was that figure calculated, given that ACT Housing does not have baseline data on the energy efficiency ratings of more than 85 per cent of the public housing stock?
MS BURCH: I am sorry, Ms Bresnan, can I ask you to repeat that?
MS BRESNAN: Yes, I will repeat the question. Given that you must have also closely considered that data, on what basis was that figure calculated, given that ACT Housing does not have baseline data on the energy efficiency ratings of more than 85 per cent of the public housing stock?
MS BURCH: Without having the detailed figure in the brief in front of me, we are the largest stockholder. We have close to 12,000 properties. Much of our property is 40 years and older. So they will require significant upgrades to meet the standards that were outlined and inspected in your bill, Mr Speaker. There were estimates and calculations on what those upgrades would be, and the advice to me and to cabinet from Housing was that that would be the cost, as outlined in the Canberra Times.
MS HUNTER: Supplementary.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Ms Hunter.
MS HUNTER: Minister, how do you explain that the cost of bringing public housing up to an EER of three stars is, according to the attorney’s comments, approximately $20,000 per house, a cost well above what would apply to most houses, and what does this say about the quality of the ACT’s public housing stock?
MS BURCH: I thank Ms Hunter for her question. The comment in there is “up to $20,000 per property”. We have 12,000 properties in our stock. They are ageing properties and they need significant reform. But as the Attorney-General has indicated, this information will come in full when the bill is being debated.
MS LE COUTEUR: Supplementary.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Ms Le Couteur.
MS LE COUTEUR: Minister, is it the government’s position that ACT Housing tenants should live in houses below an EER rating of 3 and, if not, when will you commit to lift the standard to ensure that the most disadvantaged tenants in Canberra can live in houses that are free of damp and are easier and cheaper to warm?
MS BURCH: I thank Ms Le Couteur for her question. Certainly all the new housing stock, any stock we put in place, has a six-star energy rating. We have always tried to
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