Page 1379 - Week 04 - Thursday, 12 April 2018
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MR PARTON: Minister, why, after 17 years of Labor government in this territory, is it that one in three people seeking help are being turned away from housing assistance?
MS BERRY: I remind Mr Parton that we have, still, the lowest rate of rough sleepers in the country, the lowest rate of homelessness per person in the country, the most support for homelessness through our funding of homelessness support services in the country, and we are three-quarters of the way through of an 11 per cent public housing renewal program—$600 million over four years—renewing 11 per cent of our public housing. That is a considerable amount of money spent on making sure that public housing best meets the needs of our tenants.
MS LAWDER: Minister, why do over 1,000 clients’ accommodation needs remain unmet after 17 years of Labor government in this territory?
MS BERRY: I remind members that, with respect to the homelessness funding that goes to support services to support people who have contacted OneLink to get into accommodation or get support in some other different way, people are being supported by a number of different support organisations, including organisations like Havelock, Uniting Care at the early morning centre, St Vincent de Paul in the street to home program, Beryl, Doris and Toora. All of those services provide support to people who are experiencing homelessness and are seeking support from the government. Whilst it is easy to say that there are people languishing on a waiting list, those applications are being very carefully considered and they are being supported in the best possible way for what is often a very complex issue, with a lot of complicated matters going on in those individuals’ lives.
Sport—Narrabundah ballpark
MR STEEL: My question is to the Minister for Sport and Recreation. Minister, can you update the Assembly on the status of the government’s commitment to upgrade the Narrabundah ballpark?
MS BERRY: I am very happy to update the Assembly on the status of the government’s commitment to the Narrabundah ballpark. In the 2016-17 budget, the ACT government committed $4.5 million for the upgrade of Narrabundah ballpark in partnership with Canberra Cavalry. The government worked very closely with Cavalry to develop a design solution that meets the needs of the baseball community. Those upgrade works will include construction of a new clubhouse, an announcers box, a scorers room and a broadcast area as part of an extension to the existing grandstand. On the ground floor, a new commercial kitchen, toilets and storage areas will be provided. The facility will also meet current accessibility standards.
The existing change rooms will be upgraded, and are sure to be more inclusive and female friendly, and batting cages currently located at the entrance to the park will be relocated to the rear of the existing pavilion. Fence realignment on the first and second baseline will create additional space within the ballpark which will improve the spectators’ experience as well as provide more commercial opportunities for the Canberra Cavalry.
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