Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 8 Hansard (27 June) . . Page.. 2305 ..

MR DE DOMENICO: I will answer that in a short way by saying, "Yes, I am, Mr Moore". Can I reiterate that, notwithstanding what the Milk Authority recommends to the Government, it is the Government that will make the decision, not the Milk Authority.

Mr Moore: Do you want to tell us about Lower Molonglo while you are at it?

MR DE DOMENICO: In terms of Lower Molonglo, Mr Moore, I was not aware that that had happened; but I will find out what the facts are and let you know about that as well.

MS HORODNY: My question is to the Minister for Housing, Mr Stefaniak. Minister, last year, the Government released a brochure outlining the Government's and tenants' responsibilities for the maintenance of ACT Housing properties. Minister, can you assure the Assembly that the Government is sticking to its side of the bargain as far as maintenance is concerned, including urgent repair of failed hot-water systems, stoves, leaking roofs, burst water services and so on, and can you assure the Assembly that maintenance services have not been scaled back as a cost-cutting exercise?

MR STEFANIAK: I thank the member for the question. Certainly, maintenance is a very great priority with ACT Housing. It is a considerable problem because there are never as many dollars to go around as we would like to see. Also, as Ms Horodny would be aware, we have a large number of properties which are getting fairly old. For example, more than 50 per cent of our properties are over 20 years old, and one-third of our dwellings are now over 30 years old. That leads to quite a few maintenance problems. Of course, we attempt to maintain our properties as quickly as we possibly can, but that maintenance is ongoing. It is an absolute priority of ACT Housing to maintain properties as quickly as we possibly can. Obviously, not all the time is it done quite as quickly as tenants might like; but we do have over 12,500 properties and, certainly, it is an absolute priority with us to maintain them as best we can within those limitations.

MS HORODNY: I would like to ask a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. If it is such a priority, why has an ACT Housing resident been informed that they will have to wait up to five days for a hot-water service to be fixed? It is winter, Mr Stefaniak. They were also told that they would have to heat water on a stove in the meantime.

MR STEFANIAK: Ms Horodny, if you would like to give me that person's name, perhaps I can investigate that matter on their behalf.

Mrs Carnell: Mr Speaker, I request that any further questions be placed on the notice paper.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .