Page 1010 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 24 March 2015
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by providing hard copy and large print resources by post and by hosting specific senior home owner morning teas and forums, three of which have been held to date, the most recent being at the Northside Community Service on 6 March, which included speakers and representatives of the task force, the Department of Human Services, the Real Estate Institute of the ACT, the Community and Expert Reference Group, the Northside Men’s Shed, the Council on the Ageing, the Australian Furniture Removers Association, professional organisers, financial services providers and aged-care accommodation representatives.
The task force has also been exploring opportunities for an advocate or partner program where retired public servants or professionals provide support to senior home owners in interpreting and completing paperwork if needed, independent of the task force.
The ACT government has made representations to the federal government around allowing payments from the buyback program to be exempt from the asset tests for social security payments and pensions—this has been implemented—and working with local community services around provision of practical assistance for senior home owners such as packing boxes or providing free supported transportation assistance.
We are all aware of the significant impact that this issue is having, including emotionally, for home owners. The government is continuing its partnership with the ACT Medicare Local, which covers the cost of home owners accessing psychological and emotional support. The government has also continued to examine the health impacts of the Mr Fluffy issue through ACT Health, in partnership with the task force.
In February, jointly with Minister for Health Simon Corbell, I announced a research project to be undertaken by the Australian National University’s National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health on potential health impacts that this type of asbestos may have on residents who are living or have lived in these homes. This is important work and was requested by current and former home owners. The government will update members and the community on this multi-year project as it is undertaken.
The task force is also continuing to work with the Community and Expert Reference Group in this important area. Between October and December, the CERG met six times, and has met twice so far this year.
Led by chair Dr Sue Packer, the group includes representatives of affected home owners, community services, unions, industry, business and government. The Community and Expert Reference Group has provided another way for the community to speak to the task force and for the task force to speak to the community. CERG has advised the task force of the general feelings of the affected and impacted community during the development and implementation of the loose-fill asbestos insulation eradication scheme and provided advice and support around policy development and support.
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