Mr GILES - 2008-10-30
Urban drift, overcrowding, antisocial behaviour, alcohol consumption, and violence are significant issues in Alice Springs. Many of these issues revolve around public housing. Last week, the member for Macdonnell and I agreed that several of these issues are at boiling point in Alice Springs.
As the previous Minister for Central Australia, you would be well aware of these issues. Can you advise the parliament how many new public housing properties will be built this financial year to solve some of the chronic housing problems in Alice Springs? When will these properties become available for occupation in Alice Springs to solve some of the biggest antisocial behavioural issues we have in Alice Springs?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Braitling for his question. With respect to public housing in Alice Springs, we obviously have quite a major project with the Commonwealth government, with $50m going into the town camps in Alice Springs, which we are hoping would be resolved very shortly. That is a major input into public housing in Alice Springs.
You alluded to a number of antisocial behaviours around other public housing stock within the town. This government is very committed to resolving that antisocial behaviour, because it is unacceptable and we will not tolerate it. We have taken a number of measures. The acceptable behaviour agreement is one of those areas that we have looked at addressing, and also declaring public areas of complexes to be dry ...
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The minister should point out that the $50m is actually Commonwealth money, not Northern Territory money.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Minister for Housing
Mr KNIGHT: Madam Speaker, I did acknowledge that we were working with the Commonwealth government on that project ...
Members interjecting.
Mr KNIGHT: You need to wake up there.
Mr Tollner interjecting.
Mr KNIGHT: Member for Fong Lim, it may be acceptable to fall asleep for six years in the Commonwealth parliament, but not here.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr KNIGHT: Madam Speaker, we have a major social housing project there. We are also looking at resolving antisocial behaviour issues in and around other public housing stock within the town through a range of initiatives - acceptable behaviour agreements, declaring dry areas - and we will, as a government, be putting together a comprehensive whole-of-government housing strategy for the whole Territory.
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Ms LAWRIE (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Mr GILES: The minister did not actually answer the question. I ask him to answer the question.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: The Leader of Government Business has already …
Ms GILES: Madam Speaker, there are two specific questions that I asked. One is: how many new public housing properties will be built this financial year …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, the Leader of Government Business has already moved that further questions be put on the Written Question Paper.
Mr Giles: She gagged us again.
Mr KNIGHT: Madam Speaker, I will obtain that information. It was a very complex question and I will be very up-front and honest with both the member for Braitling and other members of the Alice Springs community about our ongoing project with the Commonwealth government for the town camps once all the other issues are resolved.
As the previous Minister for Central Australia, you would be well aware of these issues. Can you advise the parliament how many new public housing properties will be built this financial year to solve some of the chronic housing problems in Alice Springs? When will these properties become available for occupation in Alice Springs to solve some of the biggest antisocial behavioural issues we have in Alice Springs?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Braitling for his question. With respect to public housing in Alice Springs, we obviously have quite a major project with the Commonwealth government, with $50m going into the town camps in Alice Springs, which we are hoping would be resolved very shortly. That is a major input into public housing in Alice Springs.
You alluded to a number of antisocial behaviours around other public housing stock within the town. This government is very committed to resolving that antisocial behaviour, because it is unacceptable and we will not tolerate it. We have taken a number of measures. The acceptable behaviour agreement is one of those areas that we have looked at addressing, and also declaring public areas of complexes to be dry ...
Mr TOLLNER: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The minister should point out that the $50m is actually Commonwealth money, not Northern Territory money.
Madam SPEAKER: There is no point of order. Minister for Housing
Mr KNIGHT: Madam Speaker, I did acknowledge that we were working with the Commonwealth government on that project ...
Members interjecting.
Mr KNIGHT: You need to wake up there.
Mr Tollner interjecting.
Mr KNIGHT: Member for Fong Lim, it may be acceptable to fall asleep for six years in the Commonwealth parliament, but not here.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr KNIGHT: Madam Speaker, we have a major social housing project there. We are also looking at resolving antisocial behaviour issues in and around other public housing stock within the town through a range of initiatives - acceptable behaviour agreements, declaring dry areas - and we will, as a government, be putting together a comprehensive whole-of-government housing strategy for the whole Territory.
Mr GILES: A point of order, Madam Speaker!
Ms LAWRIE (Leader of Government Business): Madam Speaker, I ask that further questions be placed on the Written Question Paper.
Mr GILES: The minister did not actually answer the question. I ask him to answer the question.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: The Leader of Government Business has already …
Ms GILES: Madam Speaker, there are two specific questions that I asked. One is: how many new public housing properties will be built this financial year …
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, the Leader of Government Business has already moved that further questions be put on the Written Question Paper.
Mr Giles: She gagged us again.
Mr KNIGHT: Madam Speaker, I will obtain that information. It was a very complex question and I will be very up-front and honest with both the member for Braitling and other members of the Alice Springs community about our ongoing project with the Commonwealth government for the town camps once all the other issues are resolved.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016