Page 3829 - Week 12 - Thursday, 30 October 2014
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I also recognise the bipartisan support shown by the opposition, and particularly Mr Hanson, and I look forward to continuing this approach as much as possible.
To the home owners, I thank you for the patience and resilience you have shown as you have come to terms with and tried to deal with this great challenge. Our decision to rid the city of Mr Fluffy once and for all, however difficult it is now, is without doubt in the long-term interests of the entire Canberra community.
I present the following paper:
Mr Fluffy loose fill asbestos—Update on the ACT Government response to the issue—Ministerial statement, 30 October 2014.
I move:
That the Assembly takes note of the paper.
MR HANSON (Molonglo—Leader of the Opposition) (10.19): I thank the Chief Minister for her words, which I acknowledge were very heartfelt. I take this opportunity to acknowledge all of the Mr Fluffy home owners who are here in the chamber today.
Many of us here have met with and heard stories from Mr Fluffy home owners. We understand the stress and the anguish that you and your families have been through. I want to acknowledge how difficult it has been for all of you and that your community leaders—Liberal, Labor and Green—understand, although we cannot experience, the plights that you face.
The opposition has worked hard with the government, both at the local and at the federal level, to make sure that there has been a response. It has been a bipartisan approach. There have been occasions when we have sought to prompt the government or when there have been issues that we have put forward. I would like to acknowledge that they have been responded to by the government and that the ACT government, when it has been asked by the opposition to take certain actions, has responded.
I would like to also acknowledge the work done at the federal level, by our local Liberal and Labor members—Senator Seselja, Senator Lundy, Andrew Leigh and Gai Brodtmann—all of whom have also worked very hard to make sure that there has been a response for the Mr Fluffy home owners.
This has been a very difficult issue. We now have reached a significant milestone. There is a way forward. It is going to now move from a process where there have been discussions, negotiations and advocacy to one where there is action and implementation. That is an important step. It is a change in where we will take this approach, but it is going to be no less difficult. I acknowledge that this process, as it unfolds, is going to be very difficult for government and very difficult for home owners. From the opposition’s point of view, we will continue to maintain the bipartisan support that we have shown to the government on this issue because this is far too big an issue for anybody to be playing politics with.
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