Page 386 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 14 February 2017
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Schools—maintenance
MR WALL: My question is to the minister for education and training. Minister, to what extent are you aware of the ongoing dispute between contract cleaners at ACT government schools, such as Phillips Cleaning Service and Rose Cleaning Service, with your former union, United Voice, and what actions have you or your directorate taken in resolving this dispute?
MS BERRY: Yes, I am aware of the issues that have been raised by United Voice regarding cleaners in ACT government schools. Since becoming minister for education, I have instructed the directorate to refresh the panel and we are having a really good look at the contract to ensure that vulnerable workers like contract cleaners are protected and that industrial relations and other issues that could make the contract even stronger are included in those contract arrangements. All of that will conclude by the end of June this year.
MR WALL: Minster, can you assure the Assembly that Rose Cleaning Service and Phillips Cleaning Service will continue to be paid directly for work undertaken to date for the cleaning of ACT government schools?
MS BERRY: If the two contractors are providing work and are operating within the law, of course they will be paid.
MR COE: Minister, what influence has United Voice had on the selection of panel members for school cleaning?
MS BERRY: They would have no influence on the panel.
Asbestos—Ainslie shops
MR DOSZPOT: My question is to the Minister for Planning and Land Management. Minister, are media reports correct that an asbestos-contaminated site at the Ainslie shops will be cleaned and will be available to be re-used, unlike the 1,023 Fluffy-contaminated homes around Canberra that are being demolished?
MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Mr Doszpot for his question. It is a very important topic for us to discuss as a community—the support for those people living through the asbestos task force changes. The government, the Assembly and the community have made a very important decision in relation to how we deal with asbestos contamination across the territory. I would not see that there is any opportunity in the long term to be able to stay in a house or a commercial property that has loose-fill asbestos in the ceiling. As we have said in relation to residential occupancies across the territory, the only long-term solution is to demolish those properties.
Mr Coe: A point of order, Madam Speaker.
MADAM SPEAKER: You did not get to a minute, Mr Coe, but a point of order.
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