Page 232 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 30 May 1989
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ACT increases. The housing policy review should also look at steps to improve the effectiveness of the ACT Housing Trust. As an organisation operating in an area which has important implications for social justice in the community, it must be a matter of high priority to publicise and inform the community of the benefits available from the trust.
Greater publicity should be given to its activities, and this should be in the form of plain English pamphlets and information easily understood by clients and pamphlets published in other commonly used community languages. Above all, the Housing Trust should be consistent in its decision making, since decisions in the trust have a major impact on the lives of clients.
We are also concerned about the efficiency of repairs and maintenance carried out by the Housing Trust. The trust should aim to reduce the period of time that houses are vacant. The housing policy review must identify measures to improve performance in that area as it is currently rather scandalous.
There are important issues that should be advanced at the same time as progress is made on the housing policy review. I recognise that the review cannot address heritage, leasehold and planning matters but these issues can have a significant impact on housing in the Territory.
A critical issue for both the private and public sectors is the question of planning and the finalisation of a small scale residential development policy. I urge the Government to give this matter early attention, because it could provide a way of adding to housing choice in Canberra.
I raised the review as a matter of public importance because of the need to address our critical housing problems as a matter of urgency. It is important for this Assembly to debate these issues early in the life of the review process.
Mr Speaker, I welcome the housing policy review and the undertakings by the Minister that the review will be about real results and advise here and now that my party and this Assembly will closely monitor the process to ensure that real results do occur.
MRS GRASSBY (Minister for Housing and Urban Services) (3.19): Before I speak to the matter of public importance, may I offer my condolences to the Deputy Chief Minister whose father died this morning. I do not know whether the rest of the Assembly knows that. Mr Speaker, the Government welcomes Mr Duby's contribution to the housing debate. Housing is one of the most important of my portfolios. Along with other political groups in this Assembly, the No Self Government Party gave me its view on the terms of reference for the housing policy review. I
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