Page 2070 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 6 August 2014
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I would like to refer to some of the personal stories that we have heard to put a human face on this, but in closing I commend my motion, indicate that I will be supporting the amendment and say that I think it is important that we all continue to work together to get a resolution for the affected families.
MS PORTER (Ginninderra) (11.39): I thank Mr Hanson for moving the motion about this very important matter today As Mr Hanson said, I will move an amendment to Mr Hanson’s motion. That amendment has been circulated, and I move:
Omit all words after “(1) notes”, substitute:
“(a) that over 1000 ACT homes are affected by a particularly dangerous form of loose fill asbestos which was pumped into roof spaces between 1968 and 1979 by a firm known as ‘Mr Fluffy’;
(b) the enduring legacy of this action, which took place while the Commonwealth was responsible for the ACT;
(c) that many affected homeowners and residents are in very difficult and distressed circumstances;
(d) the unsuccessful attempt at remediation under the Commonwealth designed program which crossed over the period during which self-government was instituted;
(e) the pressing need to deal with this legacy of the Commonwealth’s management of the ACT, which led the Government to establish the ACT Asbestos Task force on 25 June 2014; and
(f) that, since the establishment of the Task force, there has been a coordinated response to focus on:
(i) supporting the families who have found that they are living in a ‘Mr Fluffy’ home by administering the Government’s financial assistance package, including support for emergency accommodation and other expenses for those forced to leave their homes;
(ii) providing affected home owners and residents with up-to-date information about health risks and how to access support services;
(iii) building an information base to share with affected households, tradespeople, the property industry and the broader Canberra community; and
(iv) preparing advice on sustainable and practical long term solutions to the ‘Mr Fluffy’ legacy;
(2) notes that the Chief Minister met with the Commonwealth Employment and Public Service Minister, Senator Eric Abetz, on 10 July 2014 and reached agreement that the Commonwealth Government would work with the ACT to respond to the issue of ‘Mr Fluffy’ within the ACT community;
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