Page 2995 - Week 08 - Thursday, 15 August 2019
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MR RAMSAY: They have been made public already. Putting it in context, there have been 179 complaints received in 2018-19 regarding 159 properties: 132 of the properties did not meet the unclean leasehold criteria; the remaining 27 properties did meet the unclean criteria. Twenty of those were resolved without enforcement action. Of the remaining seven, three had controlled activity orders that were issued and four are still under investigation. Of those three controlled activity orders, one has been complied with and two are still being monitored. Of the two that are still being monitored, one relates to hoarding. That is the context of what we are talking about across the ACT.
When it comes to matters of hoarding, as you would be very aware, Madam Speaker, it is important to take a broad and holistic approach. I put on record my empathy for those who live around that property and note the concern that has been voiced in the community. But I also acknowledge that there is complexity around it. Simplistic solutions are not going to be a helpful way forward. I note that there have been comments made across the community sector in the past 24 hours about simplistic solutions that are offered by the opposition. It is important for us to work carefully—(Time expired.)
MR COE: Minister, is a person in Canberra allowed to have 250 whitegoods on a residential property, which goes to occupy the vast majority of that site?
MR RAMSAY: In relation to that site, as I say, there is a controlled activity order and the hoarding case management group is working carefully. The hoarding case management group was formed in 2015 because they are complex issues. Simplistic responses to complex issues will not only not solve the issue, it has been demonstrated that they make it worse, not better. So what we will continue to do—
Mr Coe interjecting—
MR RAMSAY: Each hoarding case has—
Mr Coe interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Coe, enough, thank you.
MR RAMSAY: Each hoarding case has a government-led agency. The health protection service in the ACT Health Directorate is the body that chairs that hoarding group. In this particular circumstance, the most recent visit to that site by the government regulators was on 13 August. The government will continue to work on this.
MS ORR: Minister, what is the best way to treat the root cause of hoarding, and is a punitive approach effective?
MR RAMSAY: I thank Ms Orr for the question, and it is an important question.
Mr Coe: Point of order.
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