Page 853 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 16 March 2010

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reduction targets to the Standing Committee on Climate Change, Environment and Water be amended by omitting the following words in paragraph (3):

“present a final report by the last sitting in March 2010;”

and substituting:

“present a final report by the last sitting in August 2010;”.

Public Accounts—Standing Committee

Report 5—government response

MS BURCH (Brindabella—Minister for Disability, Housing and Community Services, Minister for Children and Young People, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Minister for Women), by leave: I rise today to inform the Assembly about the progress on the response to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts report No 5 of 2009 to the ACT Auditor-General’s report No 4 of 2008 into the maintenance of public housing.

The Standing Committee on Public Accounts tabled in the Assembly on 8 December 2009 its report on the Auditor-General’s report on maintenance of public housing. In accordance with standing orders, the ACT government’s response to the report must be tabled in the Assembly within three months of the tabling of the standing committee’s report. There has been considerable work undertaken to date to address the recommendations in the public accounts committee report, and I have asked the department to finalise the government’s response as soon as possible and to provide the report out of session to the standing committee.

One of the committee’s recommendations was that the government report back to the Assembly on the progress and effectiveness of the Auditor-General’s recommendations. There were 12 recommendations from the Auditor-General, many of which led to negotiation of changes to the contract with Housing ACT’s facilities manager, Spotless, and revisions to the performance and management system. Whilst the changes were initiated on receipt of the Auditor-General’s audit report, the evaluation of their effectiveness as requested by the committee has taken longer to complete than anticipated.

I intend to formally table the government response in the Assembly during the May sitting period. The ACT government welcomes both the ACT Auditor-General’s report and the public accounts committee report on the maintenance of public housing. The opportunities provided in these reports to improve the level of service to some of the most vulnerable in our community are excellent. Through a collaborative approach, the ACT government will continue to provide a positive outcome for public housing tenants and their families.

Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (ACT) Bill 2009

Debate resumed from 10 December 2009, on motion by Ms Gallagher:

That this bill be agreed to in principle.


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