Page 2598 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 24 August 1994
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Housing Trust - Water Conservation Rebates
MR BERRY: My question is directed to the Minister for Housing and Community Services. Will the Minister give the Assembly some more details about the new system of water conservation rebates for Housing Trust tenants?
MR LAMONT: I thank the member for his question. Madam Speaker, the Housing Trust's policy up until 1 July 1994 was to pay for water usage up to the standard level of 350 kilolitres and recover from tenants excess water costs for usage above that rate, except the excess water charge for community organisations, refuges, et cetera, Narrabundah caravan park, or where there had been a change in the tenancy during the year. In light of the announcements of the new water charging policy, the Housing Trust is introducing new options that will encourage public tenants to conserve water and reward those who do. Under the new arrangements, the Housing Trust will charge those public tenants exceeding the 350-kilolitre threshold the full cost of the excess water; retain the current policy of no additional charges for tenants consuming between 300 and 350 kilolitres; forward on the full annual saving of $36 provided by ACTEW to the 4,200 tenants living in flats and aged persons units; and provide a water conservation rebate to the estimated 3,500 tenants who will have an annual consumption level below 300 kilolitres. This system ensures that all tenants are encouraged to conserve water, without disadvantaging the larger families, many of whom can be expected to consume between 300 and 350 kilolitres each year.
The Housing Trust will provide the rebates as offsets against tenants' rent accounts and will also charge the excess water cost to those accounts.
Mr Cornwell: On a point of order, Madam Speaker: Should not the person who asks the question actually listen to the answer?
MADAM SPEAKER: I have no way of judging whether he is actually listening or not, Mr Cornwell; so I will let Mr Lamont proceed.
MR LAMONT: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Unlike Mr Cornwell, Mr Berry can do two things at the same time. Tenants in flats and aged persons units will receive a weekly rebate adjustment, while tenants in houses who are eligible for the water conservation rebate will receive a one-off adjustment in ACTEW's last quarterly billing period for the 1994-95 year. It is correct to say that this is the first step in finetuning the changes in water billing policies that were announced by the Government, effective on 1 July. I look forward to working with Housing Trust tenants, ACTEW and the bureau to ensure that in future years and in future billing cycles we target better the water consumption and conservation program this Government has announced.
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