Dr LIM - 2003-08-13
Madam Speaker, the minister quoted from a letter he wrote to me. I actually wrote to him in early July, and I had to write a subsequent letter at the end of July before he responded. In response to his previous answer where he mentioned that he wrote to me, while the units at the Coconut Grove Seniors Village are being repaired, and while residents are being housed in the city, what assurance are you able to give to the residents that their worldly goods will be safe? What process have you put in place for the handling of the front door keys, and by whom, when the residents leave their units? I am advised by some residents at Coconut Grove that they do not have any household contents insurance. How does the minister intend to replace any goods if they were stolen in the absence of the residents?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, if this is the most pressing thing the opposition has to pursue in Question Time, it fascinates me. You can ask for a briefing, and you are more than welcome, as with every member of the opposition, to come and have a briefing on matters that concern them. However, if you want to continue on, I am quite happy to answer the questions. The question in regards to insurance is one that I will refer to the department, but I can tell you ...
A member: Oh! Good thing you didn’t ask for a briefing then, because you do not know.
Mr AH KIT: Oh! Well, oh! You want me involved in going down there personally and handing over the keys and doing the tiling myself? Wake up to yourself, I am a minister! I have a department, with public servants who work hard and whom I respect, and they are doing a good job. This is an attack on public servants. It is not so much trying to trick the minister.
The tenants are being moved out. Assistance is being provided in packing for residents, and repacking and unpacking. If we need insurance, I will refer that to the department, as I just said, and they will have a look at it.
Dr Lim: Why don’t you just say you will do it?
Mr AH KIT: Listen, do you want that answer, or are you going to go for another question after this? Well, just listen, you might learn something and be a good minister one day.
We are going to have the containers there, we are going to help them pack, we are going to help them unpack. I will get the department to have a look at the insurance so we can cover that if that is necessary. We are going to have buses to take them back to look after their pets …
Dr Lim: Every day?
Mr AH KIT: Yes, every day - take them back to water their plants. It is a pity …
Mr Dunham: That is a new decision, isn’t it? Why did you not tell them, they did not know.
Mr AH KIT: Once again, you are attacking my public servants. You should stop that because you have a record for doing that. You have priors and you must have been an awful minister.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! There is too much cross-Chamber chatting. Minister, do not react to their interjections; just keep your answer on track. Member for Drysdale and member for Greatorex, let the minister finish his answer.
Mr AH KIT: I will turn sideways, Madam Speaker.
DIPE finalised the contract arrangements on Monday to start on Friday for the first six tenants. However, all tenants have had months of notice, contrary to the shadow minister for Housing. My public servants have reported to me that tenants are very happy that the remedial works are proceeding. What else does the opposition or the shadow minister expect me to do? I am bending over backwards to ensure that they are not going to have a lot of trauma or discomfort.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, if this is the most pressing thing the opposition has to pursue in Question Time, it fascinates me. You can ask for a briefing, and you are more than welcome, as with every member of the opposition, to come and have a briefing on matters that concern them. However, if you want to continue on, I am quite happy to answer the questions. The question in regards to insurance is one that I will refer to the department, but I can tell you ...
A member: Oh! Good thing you didn’t ask for a briefing then, because you do not know.
Mr AH KIT: Oh! Well, oh! You want me involved in going down there personally and handing over the keys and doing the tiling myself? Wake up to yourself, I am a minister! I have a department, with public servants who work hard and whom I respect, and they are doing a good job. This is an attack on public servants. It is not so much trying to trick the minister.
The tenants are being moved out. Assistance is being provided in packing for residents, and repacking and unpacking. If we need insurance, I will refer that to the department, as I just said, and they will have a look at it.
Dr Lim: Why don’t you just say you will do it?
Mr AH KIT: Listen, do you want that answer, or are you going to go for another question after this? Well, just listen, you might learn something and be a good minister one day.
We are going to have the containers there, we are going to help them pack, we are going to help them unpack. I will get the department to have a look at the insurance so we can cover that if that is necessary. We are going to have buses to take them back to look after their pets …
Dr Lim: Every day?
Mr AH KIT: Yes, every day - take them back to water their plants. It is a pity …
Mr Dunham: That is a new decision, isn’t it? Why did you not tell them, they did not know.
Mr AH KIT: Once again, you are attacking my public servants. You should stop that because you have a record for doing that. You have priors and you must have been an awful minister.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! There is too much cross-Chamber chatting. Minister, do not react to their interjections; just keep your answer on track. Member for Drysdale and member for Greatorex, let the minister finish his answer.
Mr AH KIT: I will turn sideways, Madam Speaker.
DIPE finalised the contract arrangements on Monday to start on Friday for the first six tenants. However, all tenants have had months of notice, contrary to the shadow minister for Housing. My public servants have reported to me that tenants are very happy that the remedial works are proceeding. What else does the opposition or the shadow minister expect me to do? I am bending over backwards to ensure that they are not going to have a lot of trauma or discomfort.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016