Page 154 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 23 February 1994
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In the final analysis, the Government did bring forward subordinate legislation on that issue and we were not able to amend it. In fact, that was the issue that motivated me to provide drafting instructions for this rather simple Bill. Madam Speaker, it is with delight that I commend this Bill to the house. I appreciate the support provided by members in debating the in-principle stage, and I accept that in the detail stage a member will move for the adjournment.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Detail Stage
Clause 1
Debate (on motion by Mr Berry) adjourned.
HOUSING ASSISTANCE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1992
Debate resumed from 17 June 1992, on motion by Mr Cornwell:
That this Bill be agreed to in principle.
MR CONNOLLY (Attorney-General, Minister for Housing and Community Services and Minister for Urban Services) (11.29): The Government has some significant problems with the Bill that is proposed and we will be opposing it. The Government takes the view that, if this Bill were passed, slowly but surely the assets of this community that are represented by public housing in the older, inner city areas would disappear from public ownership, would become privately owned, and once gone would be irreplaceable. Madam Speaker, one of the issues that have distinguished public housing in this Territory has been the fact that, by and large, we have avoided creating suburbs which represent enclaves of public housing, suburbs which are dominated by public housing. I think there are only two designated suburbs in the ACT where there are no public houses. That, I think, is a matter of which we, as a community, should be proud. It is a reflection of sensible urban planning policies by successive governments, running right back through to the 1950s.
There has always been a commitment in the ACT to mixing public and private housing. That is not to say that there have not been errors. Melba Flats, which was decommissioned by Mrs Grassby when she was the Minister responsible - I think she had the pleasure of driving or directing the bulldozer at the demolition of that site - was a prime example of no doubt good intentioned public housing policy in the 1960s which proved to be quite disastrous. There are some other major flat complexes in the ACT that members are well aware of, which present a management challenge to the Housing Trust and where we are trying to improve tenant amenity and trying to improve community relations. That will always be the case with large flat concentrations. It is certainly something that we will never be building again.
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