Page 1950 - Week 07 - Thursday, 13 August 2020
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built in the 70s and 80s with asbestos, and before that in the 60s and 70s with lead paint. I would have to come back to the Assembly with regard to the number of schools, but there are a number of buildings across the city that are maintained safely that people live in every day. Most of us here have homes that were built before the 80s. We live in houses that have bonded asbestos sheeting as well. As long as they are maintained safely, in line with the recommendations by the experts, then they are safe for people to live in.
Housing ACT—maintenance
MR PARTON: My question is to the Minister for Housing and Suburban Development. Very recently, the tenant of an inner north Housing ACT property advised me that, after a violent incident at their complex, blood deposits and stains in a common area were left uncleaned for well over a week. Is it standard practice to take so long to clean up after such serious incidents?
MS BERRY: I cannot recall whether I have seen any correspondence about the particular incident that Mr Parton is referring to. I would have to understand, with that particular incident, what occurred, but it would be expected that the area would be cleaned up, for the safety of all the other residents. If he has not already, if Mr Parton would like to provide my office with the details, I can follow up on why that was not cleaned in a more appropriate time frame, if that was the case.
MR PARTON: What policies do you have in place relating to cleaning up bodily fluids resulting from incidents where, for example, blood might be shed in the common area of a public housing complex?
MS BERRY: The ACT government has a $40 million public housing maintenance contract with Programmed ACT, who are very experienced in ensuring that areas are cleaned and maintained. On the particular circumstances, I would have to, as I say, check, so I ask Mr Parton to provide me with some more detail on the actual incident so that I can follow that up. I would expect that that would be cleaned up as soon as possible so that it is safe for everyone, assuming that the organisation Programmed was informed about the incident and could put cleaners out there to clean it up.
MS LEE: What steps are taken to ensure that incidents at public housing complexes, as reported by police or complaints from tenants, are assessed for health and safety impacts?
MS BERRY: I am not sure if I can answer that question in a way that is specific because the question is a little bit broad. I suggest that there would be an expectation that public housing common areas managed and maintained by Housing ACT, and where Programmed provide the cleaning and maintenance work, would be cleaned appropriately, assuming that the information was passed on in the best way by police and Housing ACT if those incidents occurred. If there is a particular incident here—which it sounds like there is—that I or my office have not been told about that members would like more information on, I ask them to get in touch with my office so that I can actually look at this particular incident.
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