Page 1986 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 3 June 2015
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• Accelerating the renewal and redevelopment of ageing public housing stock
• Responding to the needs and preferences of tenants along the proposed Northbourne Avenue redevelopment sites, by providing accommodation within the 800 metre corridor (including Flemington Road), in the inner north and the city, where possible
• Growing social housing through new partnerships, innovation, intelligent design, public/private partnerships and specific project budget bids that align with Government priorities
• Maintaining the “salt and pepper” approach to public housing in existing suburbs, and expanding this approach to public housing in new and developing areas
I do not believe you can get much clearer than that in spelling out this government’s approach to public housing. I look forward to hearing the Canberra Liberals’ policies for public housing being equally clear. In fact, I look forward to seeing their housing policy, period.
I would certainly be very interested in what a Canberra Liberals government would offer for sale as part of the federal government’s asset recycling initiative. But I digress.
I was strong on this issue as Minister for Housing. I was very pleased when Ms Berry took over the portfolio, because she has also been vocal in her support for inner north public housing. I was further encouraged by her early comments about ensuring that there would be solid and regular consultation with affected tenants. If I might paraphrase Ms Berry, she summed it up very well when she said that we need to stop talking about tenants in public housing on Northbourne Avenue and talk to them. I think she was reflecting a frustration which I have also spoken of in this place.
It has been very difficult for the government, because various media outlets have been very happy to speculate on what might happen and on the timetable for certain things, and to portray the uncertainty around it. I, as the Minister for Housing, and Ms Berry, since she has taken the portfolio, have been working actively to set up groups like the LINCT task force the minister just spoke of that seeks to put in place the mechanisms to provide strong channels of communication. LINCT provides a point of advocacy for tenants that is not direct contact with the government, for people who perhaps do not feel comfortable about directly advocating with the government or would benefit from the additional support of having NGO and stakeholder groups help them make their case or make the case on their behalf.
I share some frustration in that place, and I think Minister Berry said it very well when she talked about talking much more to the tenants and, hopefully, having less talk about them by other commentators.
Let me turn to some of the parts of Ms Lawder’s motion in more detail.
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