Page 5072 - Week 16 - Wednesday, 27 November 1991
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One of the advantages, I was advised, was that it would remedy one of the longstanding problems of houses that are vacant. Mr Duby would be aware of the problem that, when a tenancy ends and a house is vacant for many weeks, the community understandably gets upset. The computer system, I was told, would remedy that situation. But, apparently, yesterday this machine went berserk and spat out some hundreds of letters to tenants, saying that they were in arrears when clearly they were not.
I have asked for a full report on why that happened. I can only apologise very publicly for the error. The trust has written to all affected tenants. I noted the comments of one identified tenant in the newspaper this morning, who expressed his outrage at this occurring. He was quite right in expressing his outrage. Tenants who have paid on a regular basis should not receive such a letter. If the error was because of a programming fault - that direct source deductions were not being correctly tapped in - I am at a loss to understand how that happened. As Mr Duby says, that has been a long-established practice.
I have asked for a report and when I get it I will give it to Mr Duby. All I can say is that I apologise. It should not have happened. It was inexcusable.
MR DUBY: I ask a supplementary question. I must point out that the Minister in no way answered the question I asked. Why did the trust commence operations on the system when they knew that it could not handle this facility? That was known from day one. That was the question I asked. We all acknowledge that it was a computer error. Why did the trust commence operations on a system they know cannot handle the procedure that is appropriate in the ACT?
MR CONNOLLY: I have apologised fairly profusely. Short of producing a stick and self-flagellating, I do not know what more I can do. Mr Duby makes an assertion of fact. I do not know whether his "facts" are correct. As I said, I have called for a report from my officials. I have said that I find what happened unacceptable. I maintain that view. When I get the report, as I said in relation to the original question, I will make the contents available to Mr Duby and this Assembly. I can do no more.
Aidex - Demonstrations
MR COLLAERY: My question is to Mr Connolly, and I enjoin him to give somewhat specific answers to this. Knowing that the Aidex exhibition was to be held as a major perceived commercial activity in the Territory, and knowing that the peace movement had well and truly advertised its intention to stop the exhibition, I ask Mr Connolly these specific questions: Did he seek police intelligence advice as to how or what was intended by those protesters? If he did receive that advice, did it include any reference to a
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