Page 808 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 16 June 1992
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and judicial experience would be useful. It will, as it moves on, often be chaired by persons who are not of a judicial office and, of course, in all cases we have non-legal persons on the panel. So we are hoping to get the informal cooperative approach that I know the community expects and which the Government does want to deliver.
MR MOORE: I have a supplementary question, Madam Speaker. Is it still your approach that full guardianships should be the last resort of the tribunal?
MR CONNOLLY: Madam Speaker, I think that is a fair comment that Mr Moore makes. I think we have to bear in mind, though, that there has been an unmet demand for this for a long time. When the body was set up it was natural that there would be a number of cases where that last resort was probably needed. Some of the first matters that have come before them have been fairly difficult cases where full guardianship would be appropriate. We do see that, as the tribunal beds itself down and as the community becomes more aware of it, the range of remedies that can be offered by the tribunal will be more commonly used.
Although I do not have the figures, I suspect that Mr Moore is concerned that there have been too many full guardianships in relation to other orders. He is probably right in that, but again that is probably a function of a new remedy being available and a lot of difficult cases that have been waiting. A number of members of the community have been waiting for years for this reform and we are coming into it. I think that over time that pattern will change.
Housing Trust - Purchase of Fraser Property
MR CORNWELL: Madam Speaker, my question is for the Minister for Housing and Community Services. I was interested to hear his earlier comments about social justice and talking to the community. Can the Minister advise why the ACT Housing Trust, in late 1991, paid $190,000 for a five-bedroom, large corner property at 129 Shakespeare Crescent, Fraser, which, whilst it remained vacant for some months, nevertheless included a 10-metre swimming pool, reverse cycle air-conditioning, separate air-conditioning in the master bedroom, an in-ground sprinkler system, along with a two-car garage? Is this house to be used for the supported accommodation service? If so, why has so much been paid, and why has the service - and I remind you about talking to the community - not been identified to immediate neighbours who, I believe, have every right to know who might be living in their midst?
MR CONNOLLY: Madam Speaker, during the last sittings we had a burst of NIMBYism which was unfortunately attributable to a real estate agent who I understand is no longer with the company that he then represented. He said that it was a terrible thing that the Housing Trust was buying properties in which they would put - shock, horror - deserted wives. Who, said this real estate agent, would want that sort of person living next to them? I was very pleased, during that debate, at the very responsible approach that was shared by Government and Opposition and Independent members when we were at one in condemning that sort of approach. I hope that Mr Cornwell is not slipping down that slope.
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