Page 904 - Week 03 - Thursday, 19 March 2015
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are stretched. But as Minister Berry has said publicly, and I must say I wholeheartedly agree with, we need to not just talk about the problem but also talk to the people we are here to help.
I was certainly gladdened to hear that the linking into new communities task force is continuing to guide the overall tenant relocation program that is essential to the housing renewal underway. I attended the first meeting of this task force and was greatly impressed by the collaborative approach taken by the various agencies represented. And I think these agencies provide a perfect link between the organisations—as I guess the acronym stands for—government and many of the tenants.
Of course Housing ACT will talk directly to the tenants, but having the advocates also there to make the case on their behalf, where things fall between the cracks or perhaps someone does not articulate an issue so well, reinforces and amplifies the confidence we can have that tenants are being well heard by Housing ACT and the government. So I thank those members of the community who have taken on that role in the task force because it is vital that we get this transition right.
There is real opportunity here for the tenants to move to properties that are more suitable, more modern, have better energy efficiency and perhaps are in a neighbourhood that even suits them better or end up being back in the neighbourhood where they started. But these are challenging works. I have expressed my frustration publicly before—and I know the minister has also said it—about the way so many of the tenants are talked about rather than talked to directly. I think that is an area we must continue to focus on and make sure that we continue to provide good opportunities for those people in our community who do need public housing both in terms of the ongoing consultation but also in ensuring that we continue to build them new housing stock that actually is an improvement on the stock they are currently living in.
I thank Minister Berry for the statement and look forward to further updates as we move through this exciting phase of renewal of some of the ACT’s public housing.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Government Procurement (Notifiable Invoices) Amendment Bill 2015
Mr Barr, pursuant to notice, presented the bill, its explanatory statement and a Human Rights Act compatibility statement.
Title read by Clerk.
MR BARR (Molonglo—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Urban Renewal and Minister for Tourism and Events) (10.37): I move:
That this bill be agreed to in principle.
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