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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 5 Hansard (7 May) . . Page.. 1627 ..

MRS BURKE (continuing):

with that. I am trying to say that it is not about evictions. I did not mention the word "eviction", I do not believe, in my speech. I never at any time mentioned that.

The minister talks about stereotyping. Ms Tucker, as did Ms Dundas, talked about stigma and stereotyping. One thing I did forget to mention-maybe you will need to check on this, Minister-is why you allowed a letter to be circulated to all residents of Strathgordon Court advising them of a raid by the TRG, the Tactical Response Group? Many tenants rang me about that in a highly offended state. Obviously, as police minister, you would be aware through the AFP that they know the individuals that they were trying to target.

The particular lady who rang me was very relieved to know that it was the TRG bashing at her door and shining lights through her window. I think that is inappropriate and that is really the problem you are talking about, Minister. We have stereotyped by default by using a letter to everybody to catch a few, and that is exactly what I am saying. Do not shrug your shoulders and pull a face, Minister. These are the problems that people are facing out there. It is not just about people with a drug problem. My colleague Mr Cornwell is quite right on that. Mr Stefaniak made some really good points as a former housing minister who did a good job in trying to work his way through this difficult portfolio area.

There must be a two-way relationship. You talked about involving the community, Minister, but it is isolated, it is in pockets. We need to develop that relationship, nurture it and work on it, which needs energy. I was told by somebody in the AFP that we need an injection or a boost of energy into the area. It is going to take a strong commitment. It is not just a matter of saying that we are doing the best we can. I have appreciated the work of the department. I tell departmental staff that and I have told you, Minister. I give credit where it is due, and you know that. I am just saying to you that we are not following what we say we should be doing under the rights and obligations of the tenancy agreement.

I am thankful for the input of members to this debate today. The debate has brought issues out into the open and we can now do something about them. We can see about assisting those that need some help. We can get mechanisms in place. I hope that it will help you, Minister, by giving you a bit of vision and giving you some things that you can see about for the future. I will leave it at that, Mr Speaker. I thank members for their support and look forward to working with the government; in particular, the minister. The offer is still open: let's do some tours of places and talk to people.

One last thing I did want to say, Minister, was that that you said many times that I made sweeping statements when I bring to this place issues that you do not like hearing. I have a letter from a tenant at Fraser Court. I have many letters that I could have produced today. Again, I did say that many people in this difficult area, as you know very well, do not want to be identified, do not want their name spread across anywhere. I think that it was a bit churlish of you to say that I make sweeping statements when you jolly well know that perhaps I cannot be as open as I would like to be.

I thank members for their support of this motion.

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