Page 152 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 14 February 2018
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in a year. Minister, why are you pursuing policies that are making it increasingly difficult to live in Canberra unless you are on a certain income?
MR GENTLEMAN: I refute the allegation in the question. The simple fact is that people are not flocking across the border.
MR PARTON: Minister, how many people do you estimate have been compelled to buy or rent outside of—
Opposition members interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Parton, I had trouble hearing your first question because of your colleagues. I would ask: can we hear your supplementary? Thank you.
MR PARTON: I am sorry; I tend to be a little soft. Minister, how many people do you estimate have been compelled to buy or rent outside Canberra due to your government’s policies?
MR GENTLEMAN: None. We see population growth in the ACT of some 7,000 people. That is our population growth. The government is also pursuing a land release agenda of 4,000 per year. So we are well prepared for population growth in the ACT. I cannot see why people would want to go across the border when we have a fantastic city to live in. We have accommodation that is affordable, and house prices are affordable, too. If you look at the prices in New South Wales, Madam Speaker, you will see that some are far more expensive than we see in the suburbs where you and I live in Tuggeranong, for example.
MR COE: Minister, what modelling has the government done with regard to the foreign tax that has now been placed on foreign investment here in the ACT with regard to the impact it will have on the private rental market?
MR GENTLEMAN: I do not have the detailed modelling in front of me but I will get hold of it and present it back to the Assembly.
ACT Health—hospital capacity
MRS DUNNE: My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing. Minister, you advised the Assembly through answers to questions on notice that the Canberra Hospital was continuously over 90 per cent full during the months of July, August and September 2017. You also informed us that the hospital was at alert level 3 continuously for the months of July, August and September 2017, meaning that there was disruption of critical services during that period. Minister, has the hospital been at alert level 3 at any stage between 1 October 2017 and today?
MS FITZHARRIS: I will take the question on notice.
MRS DUNNE: While you are taking that question on notice, I presume you will have to take this one on notice, because you are not briefed. Has Calvary Hospital been at alert level 3 at any stage between 1 July and today?
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