Page 1364 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 6 May 2015
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I hope that the Canberra Liberals work with us and with the Nicholls community to reassure people about the definition of supportive housing which is available to them. I am sure Ms Berry and the Chief Minister will be happy to provide that definition so that there is not further concern raised in the community on information which has somehow been misrepresented. I am sure that the government can make that offer to the Canberra Liberals today; I really hope that they can work with us on that. That is both for the community as a whole and, as this development progresses, for the potential future residents of that community: they want to know that they are moving into a community that accepts them and welcomes them.
Thank you also to Mr Rattenbury for his support. I note his recognition of the diversity of public housing in Canberra and also its rich history in contributing to our society. I note his comments about wanting to ensure that public housing continues to be built across the city. I know that he has been a strong supporter of that, both now in his current role and in his previous role as minister for housing. I also note his acknowledgement that where concentration of public housing has been part of our history it is clear that in a number of cases that no longer meets the needs of tenants or the broader community needs.
I also acknowledge and support his comment that we need to do what we can to make sure that we break down any negative stereotypes. That is particularly important and was one of the issues raised, as I understand, by a number of people who attended the meeting on the Nicholls development on Monday night. Again, I would like to call on the Canberra Liberals to support the government in its efforts to break down these sorts of stereotypes.
I thank members for their support. I would like to finish by saying that we should all just take a moment to think about what housing means to us and what it means for people across our community. It does not just mean a building; it means a home. It is a place where we go for refuge after a busy day; it is a place where we re-gather as a family. Think about how relieved we are to get home after a holiday. Think about how it makes us feel to be safe in our own home and think about the people who do not feel safe in their own home. It is the place where we raise our children, where we share happy and sad moments in private and where we do not need to care about what we are wearing. It is that sense of safety and security that gives us all the opportunity to participate fully in our community. That is the case for us whether we are renters in the private market, renters in social housing or we own our own home.
I hope these thoughts can inform this continued debate about public housing. I look forward to the report and the update to the Assembly on the last sitting day of this year about the public housing renewal program. I again thank members for their support.
Motion agreed to.
Standing orders—suspension
Motion (by Dr Bourke) agreed to, with the concurrence of an absolute majority:
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