Page 481 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 19 February 2020
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MR PARTON: Minister, can you detail more of those issues that you speak of. What impact is lower cost land over the border having on SLA sales?
MS BERRY: Thank you for that question, Mr Parton. I have not been advised that there has been any effect from sales of land across the border on the downturn in sales of land in the ACT, including from SLA, Denman Prospect and Ginninderry. A whole lot of matters have come together that have meant that people are not purchasing at the moment. Some of that is to do with the banking royal commission and how the banks lend money. There was an election last year that also affected people’s decision-making on when they would purchase a home. So there are a whole lot of reasons but I have not been advised that there has been any effect from land sales across the border.
National Multicultural Festival—women’s safety
MS LE COUTEUR: My question is to the Minister for Women and relates to women’s safety audits for the National Multicultural Festival this weekend. Minister, assuming that a safety audit has been undertaken, are you aware of any adjustments that have been made or recommended to protect women’s and others’ safety at the festival?
MS BERRY: I thank Ms Le Couteur for that question. Yes, a safety audit is conducted of the Multicultural Festival each year. It has not occurred yet; it will occur tomorrow. Members of the Ministerial Advisory Council on Women will be participating in that audit as well. If any issues arise out of that, that are identified through the audit, they will be addressed.
MS LE COUTEUR: Can you reassure the community that as well as the members of the ministerial council there will be some people doing this who are vulnerable women? I would suspect that the members of the ministerial council—how can I put it?—by definition are not the most vulnerable within the ACT. We are looking for the impact on people who feel vulnerable and are vulnerable, which is probably not your committee.
MS BERRY: The ministerial advisory council membership is quite diverse, and the women on the council are representatives of a whole lot of organisations, including the YWCA and the Women’s Centre for Health Matters. There is a pretty good understanding from members on the women’s advisory council of the needs of all women, but particularly women who might be more at risk.
Housing—affordability
MR PARTON: My question is to the Minister for Housing and Suburban Development. According to the Domain rental report for the December quarter, Canberra’s median asking rent for houses was up 3.6 per cent year on year and 5.5 per cent over the quarter, the biggest jump in the nation. Former Chief Minister Jon Stanhope has said:
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