Page 1156 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 25 March 2015
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The questions I posed are included in the motion: how many Housing ACT dwellings contain asbestos? Do any of the Housing ACT dwellings being sold as part of the government’s asset recycling program contain asbestos? Have tenants of the dwellings containing asbestos been notified? What are the health risks to tenants of Housing ACT dwellings containing asbestos?
This motion simply calls on the ACT government to provide information and transparency about Housing ACT dwellings containing asbestos, including, but absolutely not limited to, Mr Fluffy.
MS BERRY (Ginninderra—Minister for Housing, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, Minister for Community Services, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Women and Minister assisting the Chief Minister on Social Inclusion and Equality) (4.54): I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak to this motion today. I have an amendment, and I will speak to Ms Lawder’s motion as well. I move the following amendment that has been circulated in my name:
Omit all words after “That this Assembly”, substitute:
“(1) notes that:
(a) only 5 Housing ACT properties have been identified to contain Mr Fluffy asbestos;
(b) most public and private properties built in Australia before the late 1980s are likely to have some form of asbestos present in the dwelling or external buildings;
(c) the majority of properties owned by Housing ACT were constructed prior to the late 1980s, meaning that these properties are also likely to include materials that contain asbestos; and
(d) bonded asbestos does not pose a risk to health if it is maintained in good condition and not disturbed; and
(2) further notes:
(a) the ACT Government’s strong commitment to renewing ageing public housing stock;
(b) that all Housing ACT properties with Mr Fluffy asbestos will be demolished, with tenants being relocated to other homes, and these tenants have been advised of this;
(c) that since 2005 Housing ACT has provided detailed information in writing to its tenants about asbestos that may be present in their homes;
(d) that Housing ACT tenants are provided advice on not undertaking repairs or renovations to areas of their property that may contain asbestos and also on what they should do in the event that they are concerned about the condition of the asbestos in their properties; and
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