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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 10 Hansard (3 September) . . Page.. 2977 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

The schedule read as follows:

Gungahlin Development Authority Act - Notice of commencement (19 August 1996) of provisions (other than sections 1 and 2) (S212, dated 19 August 1996).

Liquor Act - Liquor Regulations (Amendment) - No. 19 of 1996 (S221, dated 28 August 1996).

Motor Traffic Act - Determination of fees -

Parking charges - No. 194 of 1996 (S226, dated 30 August 1996).

Taxi fares - No. 192 of 1996 (S219, dated 26 August 1996).

Radiation Act - Determination of fees - No. 193 of 1996 (S224, dated 30 August 1996).

Trading Hours Act - Notice of commencement (9 September 1996) of remaining provisions (S206, dated 16 August 1996).

MR SPEAKER: I have received a letter from Ms Reilly proposing that a matter of public importance be submitted to the Assembly for discussion, namely:

The importance of maintaining the levels of government ownership of public housing in the ACT.

MS REILLY (4.41): Public ownership of housing brings to a community many benefits which go beyond the bricks and mortar of the actual dwellings. For many people, it seems difficult to understand the value of public housing that does not have actual dollar tags on it. There are values beyond counting just how many bricks there are and what the value of the bricks might be. Public ownership of housing leads to a fairer society because it addresses that basic human need for housing. It also gives every community important social capital. Public housing and housing assistance in Australia have reduced the number of people who could be living below the poverty line, and this has been an important public program in Australia for many years. Investment in public housing has many benefits. It provides jobs for those who construct it; it provides opportunities for jobs for those who live in public housing, as they have housing settled and it is more easy to get a job when you have somewhere to live and some security of tenure; it helps families; it gives them a place to live; it stabilises their lives for them; and it helps those who may have many difficulties in finding accommodation.

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