Page 546 - Week 02 - Thursday, 9 March 2006
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Red Hill
MRS BURKE: My question is to the minister for housing. There is a distinct and long-awaited need for an announcement on the future of the Red Hill precinct, including the multiunit public housing complex. There is also a distinct need for improvement in the amenity and safety issues for the area. In your capacity as both police minister and housing minister, what are you doing, firstly, to rejuvenate the multiunit public housing complex, to the benefit of residents and nearby neighbours alike? Secondly, how are you seeking to engage with the shopkeepers and business owners at Red Hill to resolve their concerns about safety and security that are resulting in a downturn in their businesses?
MR HARGREAVES: Officers of the Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services have been in fairly regular dialogue with people who live in the Red Hill multiunit complex. They will continue to do so, they say. They will continue to develop with them plans for the rejuvenation of that complex. We will do things that the opposition does not do and has never done, that is, talk to people. With respect to the safety of the precinct, I reiterate the offer I made yesterday, that is, to have continued dialogue between the traders in that area and the ACT police.
MRS BURKE: Given that the community has been waiting over three years for this information, when is an announcement expected on the future of the public housing complex and, more broadly, what is known as the Red Hill precinct? How is the planning minister assisting you with this matter?
MR HARGREAVES: I will answer the last question first. The planning minister and I speak quite regularly on issues pertaining to amenity and to the visions that the minister has with respect to the provision of affordable housing in this town. In fact, I am very pleased to say to the house that it is due to this minister’s vision that I have been able to achieve what I have done so far, which members opposite will decry but that is bad luck because, as usual, they have got it wrong. With respect to the rest, I have already answered the question and I do not propose to do so again.
Budget—spending
MR MULCAHY: Mr Speaker, my question is to the Treasurer. When he is the last batsman defending the precious budget wicket, can he pick a bosie, doosra or flipper from a big spending minister? What does he do to prevent the ball slipping through the gap between bat and pad? If he gets a loose ball down the leg side does he smack it over the boundary or just let it go through to the keeper? And has he ever been run out by a colleague?
MR QUINLAN: The answer to the last question is that certainly I have been run out in the true sense, probably because of my own fault rather than anybody else’s. Let me tell you that in my time on the cricket field I have never been a patient batsman. But I do welcome the opportunity to say that I did play in the match to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Manuka oval with some real cricketers, and took five-for.
Members interjecting—
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