Page 1875 - Week 09 - Thursday, 19 October 1989
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pleased to hear the Minister say that the housing policy review will be examining the options this financial year.
These will include schemes such as shared equity and rental purchase, as well as other initiatives. The ACT will also benefit from the improved planning processes of the new agreement. Each State and territory will be required to develop jointly with the Commonwealth an annual housing plan. This process will allow the priorities of the ACT Government, the Commonwealth and the community sector to be incorporated into public housing planning and ensure consistency with the principles of the agreement.
It would also promote needs based planning and provide an opportunity for greater scrutiny and involvement by the ACT community. I am also pleased that the Minister has given an undertaking that the housing needs of aged people will be examined in the next stage of the housing policy review. We well know that the Social Policy Committee of the Assembly has been examining the accommodation needs of the aged. I am optimistic that the new planning arrangements of the housing agreement, the report that we brought to this Assembly today and the work of the housing policy review can come together to provide even better programs for the aged.
One aspect of the agreement which I fully support is its emphasis on tenant participation in decision making and in the development of public housing policies. I know that the Housing Trust has commenced a process of tenant involvement, but it still needs further development and I hope that the Minister will keep a close watch on that.
The agreement also guarantees public housing tenants the right to security of tenure provided they meet their tenancy obligations. Should the ACT Housing Trust require a tenant to move from one dwelling to another, it will be required to offer the tenant a choice of dwelling and location appropriate to his or her needs. This is an important principle and a key part of ALP policy which is different from that of the opposition.
Members might recall an opposition proposal that higher-income tenants should not have security of tenure. Such a policy would provide substantial disincentives to those who are on a benefit or who are seeking improve their circumstances by either part-time work or a return to full-time work. It would also place at risk those people who are now working but are approaching retirement.
The agreement incorporates a number of important principles designed to ensure equality and equity in the delivery of housing assistance throughout Australia. These include a prohibition on discrimination while ensuring that those in most need are assisted first, the principle that applicants should have a choice between the differing forms of assistance available and that public rental dwellings should reflect general community housing standards and be accessible to community and other services.
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