Page 4435 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 30 October 2018
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record of delivering reforms that first and foremost support the people who need support the most. We will keep doing that in our efforts to make this strategy a reality. I thank and congratulate the Deputy Chief Minister for her leadership in this ongoing action and in this government’s ongoing commitments.
MS STEPHEN-SMITH (Kurrajong—Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, Minister for Disability, Minister for Children, Youth and Families, Minister for Employment and Workplace Safety, Minister for Government Services and Procurement, Minister for Urban Renewal) (10.42): I also rise to commend Minister Berry for delivering a housing strategy for the ACT. The strategy is an important piece of work for the ACT government and I recognise the hard work of officials across government, particularly those in Housing ACT, in the Community Services Directorate, and in the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate.
The housing strategy is a demonstration of Labor values: fairness and equality. We believe that when people are left behind or excluded by the housing market governments should intervene and provide people with a home, a good home, a home that is functional, a home that keeps people warm in winter and cool in summer, a home that is appropriate for their individual needs.
The ACT used to have one of the oldest public housing stocks in the country, although one of the most significant in terms of the proportion of housing. We are on a path to having one of the most modern and efficient. ACT Labor believes in providing quality public housing to those who need it. The Deputy Chief Minister has eloquently described why this is not only a moral imperative but also a good investment. Unfortunately, the Canberra Liberals only believe in running scare campaigns and in whipping up community fear and anxiety about public housing. We invite them to get on board with the importance of public housing.
As the housing strategy demonstrates, Canberra has a proud history of innovative housing solutions but we do need to do more and to do it better to meet the needs of our growing city and our diverse community. One of the ways we are doing this is through the demonstration housing project currently underway. It is managed by the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate.
The demonstration housing project is also something that I am now responsible for, as Minister for Urban Renewal. The housing strategy considers the demonstration project as part of a wider effort to provide a diverse mix of housing types and choices to the ACT. Through the project, the ACT government is engaging with the community and industry stakeholders on how best to deliver demonstration housing that supports best practice design, including excellence in design quality, carbon neutral buildings, medium density infill, innovative planning and engagement approaches, innovative housing projects and typologies, close partnerships with industry bodies, and options for public and affordable housing.
This project will not only bring world-class design to our suburbs; it will enable new and innovative ways of ensuring our community has quality homes for a growing city in a changing climate. We need to address the missing middle of housing types in the
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