Page 4990 - Week 15 - Thursday, 15 December 2005

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


(2) What recommendations will be acted upon as a result of any changes to the rent policy.

Mr Hargreaves: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:

(1) No formal full review of rent policies for community and public housing tenants has been carried out.

(2) One of the strategies under the Bilateral Agreement for the 2003 Commonwealth State Housing Agreement is to conduct a rent review of public housing and community housing rent policies to ensure that these rent policies support access to employment. In response to this, the Government has provided an incentive for tenants and other occupants of public housing to seek paid employment. This is to be achieved by extending the existing rebate for six months from the date of employment rather than from the date of granting the existing rebate. The change in policy provides that after 1 September 2005, where a previously unemployed occupant of public housing commences employment, and the household was in receipt of a rebate, the period of the rebate will be extended by six months from the date the employment commences. The policy will apply to all household members, provided that they were approved occupants at the time that the existing rebate was granted and the remuneration from the employment is at least $100 per week.

Housing ACT—stock condition report
(Question No 756)

Mrs Burke asked the Minister for Disability, Housing and Community Services, upon notice, on 15 November 2005:

Has the Stock Condition report for Housing ACT been completed; if so, are copies available for scrutiny and what percentage of Housing ACT’s available housing stock met the set conditions standard.

Mr Hargreaves: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:

(1) At 30 June 2005, an audit of 8,396 public housing properties was completed. The condition assessment is an ongoing process.

(2) No, a copy of a report is not available for scrutiny.

(3) At 30 June 2005, an audit of 8,396 public housing properties was completed. Properties recently refurbished or purchased were excluded from the condition audit. Approximately 82% of those properties audited met or exceeded the conditions standard on the majority of major property features. Minor works to 20% of the audited properties is required on individual aspects of the property to be brought up to standard. Works identified in the condition assessment will form the basis of the Total Facility Manager’s planned works programs.

Housing—transfer applications
(Question No 757)

Mrs Burke asked the Minister for Disability, Housing and Community Services, upon notice, on 15 November 2005:


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