Page 1861 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 1 May 1991

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States. The housing industry and the availability of affordable housing face a lot of pressures. They are contributed to by macro-economic settings. The impact of the recession, particularly increased levels of unemployment, places a greater demand on housing assistance. It is a variable of unemployment. We do not control that top end macro variable, and the record high interest rates have had an impact on housing affordability across Australia.

In the ACT we have a particular challenge. The most recent Bureau of Statistics figures reveal that in the past 12 months the ACT has had the highest growth rate of any State or Territory in Australia, and we have to look at the fact that our household formation arrangements and our ageing population present particular challenges. (Quorum formed)

Overseas migration gain for the ACT was twice as high as for the previous year and interstate migration, which is a big factor in public housing, as we well know, was four times higher. This presents a greater challenge for my officials in dealing with this important area.

Mr Deputy Speaker, I table a letter from the Commissioner for Housing, dated 27 March 1991, to Mr Kelvin Enright, chair, Ainslie Village Ltd.

MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! The time for the discussion has expired. The discussion is concluded.

ADMINISTRATION AND PROBATE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1991

[COGNATE BILL:

PUBLIC TRUSTEE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1991]

Debate resumed from 18 April 1991, on motion by Mr Collaery:

That this Bill be agreed to in principle.

MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Is it the wish of the Assembly to debate this order of the day concurrently with the Public Trustee (Amendment) Bill 1991? There being no objection, that course will be followed. I remind members that in debating order of the day No. 1 they may also address their remarks to order of the day No. 2.

MR CONNOLLY (4.15): Mr Deputy Speaker, the Opposition has no difficulty with these two Bills having passage through the house at this stage. They give effect to changes in policy in relation to the running of the Public Trustee's office which will, in effect, be putting the Public Trustee's office on more of a cost recovery basis. The Public Trustee's office will, by charging a more comprehensive range of fees, seek to recover the full cost


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