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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 7 Hansard (24 June) . . Page.. 2375 ..

MRS BURKE

There has been a restructure of the department. I am sure that will benefit the operational and strategic approach to future service delivery. That is encouraging to see. There are some positives in this budget. I do not intend to go into detail because others will probably make some comments in that respect.

I welcome money for the provision of increased short-term supported accommodation for families and single men in crisis. The single men in crisis area is of great concern to me, in that we still have some issues within the community in that regard. I am sure the minister knows only too well what they are. I hope he will listen to the voices of the community and continue to try to address those needs in a greater and more enhanced way.

The fact that moneys are to be used for extended outreach services for homeless people, and capacity enhancement of the existing supported accommodation assistance program, is indeed commendable. I welcome the initiative to respond to the critical funding request for people with disabilities who have been assessed as having high and complex unmet support needs.

Correct me if I am wrong, Minister, but I believe the funding will now follow the individual, rather than it being at one place. I probably have not explained myself well there, but I am sure the intent of that is to look after the individual more, with the focus being more on the individual. I welcome that.

Although the government has allowed $3 million for affordable housing and community housing, I thought the original commitment was $5 million, and that it was to be a year sooner. I stand corrected if that is not the case. In any event, we are now looking at $3 million some 12 months later than promised. Whilst I applaud these funding measures, I have some areas of concern on which I believe I have made myself clear over the last little while.

Whilst the future of some of our housing stock is still uncertain, I have concerns about the condition of some of our other stock, and about the delivery of services to our housing tenants. This excludes the properties listed for upgrades, which I have seen.

I have again tonight had a look through the minister's media releases. There are a lot of warm and fuzzy things, and that is really nice. However, I do not feel that this budget comes anywhere near to hitting some of the core problems faced by the housing tenants living out there. They are doing it extremely hard, in many areas.

I ask that further consideration be given to some of the tenants who are doing it tough and whose needs are not being addressed under this budget. The highlights of this government's budget are commendable. I always give credit where it is due, as does the minister for housing.

When I look at the objectives of the department, I am aware that they are high. The objectives are lofty, and they are commendable. We talk about engaging and involving our clients, improving outcomes for our clients, building better community partnerships, serving and contributing to good governance and performing as a best practice organisation.

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