Bernie Ripoll (Oxley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I completely disagree with this motion. I think that the contributions from the member for Solomon and the member for Fadden have nothing to do with defence housing, with people living on the street or with the housing crisis in the Northern Territory. They are nothing more than cheap politics. The reality is that there is a housing crisis in the Northern Territory, but what is being proposed in this private member's motion does absolutely nothing to address that, nor does it do anything to address the concerns of military personnel. Unlike both those members, over the past decade and more I have spent some time working in this area with the Defence Housing Authority and in particular in the Northern Territory. One thing that we learned when we went through a whole range of defence housing homes is that defence personnel vote with their feet. They make the decisions, and they ought to get the same standard as is expected right across the community, not substandard housing.

The reality is that there are a number of issues with the houses in Darwin, particularly those that are on the base, not least the security of the base in terms of how they are managed and developed. The Defence Housing Authority has already moved a number of the homes that are capable of being moved off site. That is already being done. There are a number of solutions. Those that can be done are being done. Currently about 50 per cent of the houses at RAAF Base Darwin are vacant, but they are vacant for several reasons. Some are in the posting cycle, so they are going to be vacant. Others are scheduled for routine repairs, major repairs, upgrades or demolition, and the ageing condition of many of the properties makes them uneconomical to repair or otherwise to upgrade. It should also be noted that other vacant housing is available for selection by ADF personnel, and they choose houses of a high standard or high quality, which they ought to have.

A lot of work has been done by the Public Works Committee to make sure of funding and a lot of work has been done by members of this House on both sides to make sure that ADF personnel are properly looked after and given the sort of standard in housing that is expected right across the community. In fact, we have already moved a number of houses from Larrakeyah, with 61 houses being moved off site and saved from demolition. Where it can be done it will be done, but it needs to be done in an economical manner and in a manner that meets community and building standards and housing standards. Defence has also approached the Northern Territory government and the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs to determine their interest—whether they would be prepared to take some of this up—but unfortunately both organisations have advised that at this stage they are not interested in acquiring the houses. Perhaps the members for Solomon and Fadden could do some more work in that area. Leasing any of these houses to the public would also require an increase in defence personnel and resources to manage the required agreements when they were moved off site.

Mr Robert interjecting—

Perhaps the member for Fadden would like to work for DHA. He would probably do a better job than the whole department would, because he certainly feels that he is better placed, having lived in one of the houses.

The government also has a plan for housing in Darwin. We expect to make announcements soon about RAAF Base Darwin houses, as we have done for a lot of years to ensure that defence personnel, whether they are based in Darwin, in the Northern Territory, or based in Tasmania, in Sydney or in RAAF Base Amberley, in Queensland, just in my backyard—wherever they are—get a better or equal community standard of housing, housing that you would expect for any other family in the community.

I do not see why there should be an argument on the other side to give them substandard housing, to force them into empty houses which they clearly do not want to occupy. I find that quite offensive. I think Defence Force personnel should have those options, and they certainly do under this government. It has been long held, regardless of who was in government, that we all work to the benefit of Defence Force personnel to make sure that the standard of the houses they live in is not that of houses of 20 years ago. They are modern, decent homes that are built to a community standard which is currently acceptable. When you read through the private member's motion from the member for Solomon—and I understand that she is a new member of the House—the reality of the motion does not do anything for either Defence Force personnel—

Opposition members interjecting—

I can just tell by the catcalling and all of the other insults that are coming from the other side that they are very defensive. They got their opportunity to speak on this and put their view, and I am putting my view. My view is that we ought to look after Defence Force personnel, not force them into substandard housing. All this motion is about is cheap politics.

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