Page 1820 - Week 05 - Thursday, 16 May 2019

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This next plan will continue to put the tenants at the centre and will take into consideration the preferences of where tenants want to live and build homes that best suit their needs. It will focus on renewing and growing single and low density properties and using our existing land more efficiently.

The current renewal program has made a huge impact on the lives of public housing tenants, and the next program will build on those learnings to deliver better outcomes for many Canberrans

MS CHEYNE: Minister, how does this investment in public housing compare to other jurisdictions?

MS BERRY: Over the 10 years to 2024 the ACT government will have invested more than a billion dollars in public housing and renewed approximately 20 per cent of our public housing portfolio. This is the largest investment in and commitment to public housing of any government in Australia. Comparing our $100 million investment on a per capita basis to other jurisdictions, New South Wales would need to invest nearly $2 billion and Victoria would need to invest nearly $1.5 billion in public housing.

Our approach in the ACT is different to that of other jurisdictions, where large-scale sell-offs and transfers out of public housing are happening. The funding and support for public housing will strengthen the Commissioner for Social Housing, owned and operated on behalf of all Canberrans. While there has been no new investment from the federal government in social housing within the ACT, the ACT is leading the country in terms of support for the growth and renewal of public housing. This unprecedented investment in public housing demonstrates the government’s commitment to supporting low-income and vulnerable Canberrans by providing more homes in this progressive and inclusive city that supports all members of our community.

Sport—indoor facilities

MR MILLIGAN: Madam Speaker, my question is to the Minister for Sport and Recreation. Minister, I am starting to feel like I am stuck in the movie Groundhog Day. Can you advise the chamber when the long awaited indoor sporting feasibility study you promised in 2016 will be made available for the numerous sporting groups currently managing a shortage of facilities in Woden, Belconnen and Gungahlin?

MS BERRY: I understand that Mr Milligan is very interested in the indoor sports study. The indoor sports study was a very focused study for only a few sports in the ACT across a couple of regions. It was not an all-of-Canberra study for every single sport that uses indoor facilities. I can assure Mr Milligan that the indoor sports study will be released soon.

MR MILLIGAN: Minister, why are local sporting groups having to turn away players, including juniors and many senior Canberrans, due to the lack of facilities in these crucial growth areas of Canberra?


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