Page 619 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 22 February 2012
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MS HUNTER: A supplementary.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Ms Hunter.
MS HUNTER: Minister, will you be lobbying your federal counterpart to get the extra $5 billion into the education system that was put forward by Gonski?
DR BOURKE: I thank the member for her question. I am sure that I, like every other education minister in this country—every other state and territory education minister in this country—will be wanting that extra money.
Public housing—insulation
MS BRESNAN: My question is to the Minister for Community Services and concerns the insulation in public housing. Minister, the Greens support the rollout of improved insulation across Canberra’s public housing. However, we have received concerns about insulation that has been incorrectly installed and may be a fire threat. One such fire occurred last Saturday. Minister, can you please advise what steps are taken to ensure insulation installed in public housing has been done correctly, and is there any kind of independent check of the insulation after it has been installed?
MS BURCH: I thank Ms Bresnan for her question. Insulation in Housing ACT properties is managed at the moment under our Total Facilities maintenance contract, at the moment through Spotless. They are required, under contract, under law, to have whatever the standards of registration for different practitioners are—licensed electricians and the like—put in place. Spotless clearly then subcontract the installation to a range of people. I am not aware of the incident that you are referring to, Ms Bresnan. I am happy to take it on notice. Certainly, with all work there are independent audits built into the system to check our timeliness of response and the quality of work as well. Any feedback or concerns raised by a tenant over the safety of any work, whether it is insulation or other work, would certainly be followed up.
MS BRESNAN: A supplementary.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Ms Bresnan.
MS BRESNAN: Minister, are you aware of how many fires may have occurred in public housing because of incorrectly installed insulation?
MS BURCH: No, I would have to take that on notice, and I am more than happy to do so.
MS HUNTER: Supplementary.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Ms Hunter.
MS HUNTER: Minister, what action is the directorate taking as a result of the fire last Saturday?
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