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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2000 Week 9 Hansard (7 September) . . Page.. 2996 ..

MR SMYTH: Mr Speaker, the opening to Mr Wood's question is incorrect. There was no formal function at the Boomerang Centre. The function was at the Bega Flats because the tenants were so delighted with the outcome that they were very pleased to put on display the units that have now been provided for them. I would thank the young lady and child that allowed us to go into their flat so that we could show off the good work ACT Housing had done. I understand they may have gone to the Boomerang Centre afterwards for a cup of tea.

I do not have the detail of the next stage of that project with me. The government, in this year's budget, announced some $60 million worth of renovation for our big flats over the next five to 10 years. We now have to work out how we can make that program work, how we can do it the quickest and how we can do it the best.

We employed Ecumenical Housing to look at our flats and tell us which ones were worth keeping, which ones we should dispose of as no longer meeting reasonable need and then how to go about renovating those we keep. The important thing is that we have a strategy in place to upgrade all of these flats. It started in the first Carnell government under the then housing minister, Mr Stefaniak. This government is committed to providing appropriate quality housing of the style which the tenants require and in the locations they desire.

MR WOOD: I ask a supplementary question. You will get back to me with those details, minister, I take it. As you do, would you note what is going to happen to the lifts at Currong Flats. You would know, I have no doubt, that they break down too often, sometimes with people in them. Understandably, some people get very nervous about that. Ecumenical Housing said that those lifts had reached the end of their economic life. They have been there a long time. Will you come back with an answer about Currong Flats generally and about the lifts specifically.

MR SMYTH: I would be delighted to get back to the member as soon as those details have been worked out.

Ms Carnell: I ask that all further questions be placed on the notice paper, Mr Speaker.

MS CARNELL: I would like to give further information on a question asked by Mr Quinlan yesterday. Mr Quinlan asked about somebody who rang up and got the wrong phone number and about a few other things. When the ACT government switchboard receives business-related inquiries, they refer them to either ACT Business Gateway or to organisations offering assistance and direction to the ACT business community.

On this occasion they referred the client, firstly, and unfortunately, to a number that had been disconnected and, secondly, to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The switchboard contact list has been updated, and I thank Mr Quinlan for alerting us to the problem. They have been asked to refer all future business-related inquiries to the Business Gateway operators. However, there will be occasions when the Chamber of Commerce and Industry will be the appropriate referral point and will be able to assist.

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