Peter Hendy (Eden-Monaro, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I do not intend speaking for long on this bill, the ACT Government Loan Bill 2014, but I do particularly want to make reference to the implications of loose-fill asbestos in my electorate of Eden Monaro. This bill is to give effect to a recent decision by the Commonwealth government to assist the government of the Australian Capital Territory to meet its financial obligations due to a major public health issue—indeed, an issue that can be deadly. As the Minister for Employment, Senator Eric Abetz, has previously stated, the Commonwealth government will provide the ACT government with a concessional loan of up to $1 billion to deliver a program to buy back and demolish over 1,000 houses in the ACT affected by Mr Fluffy loose- fill asbestos. This facility will, very specifically, allow the ACT to borrow up to $1 billion at the Commonwealth's interest rate for a period of 10 years, allowing savings to the ACT government. Because of the one-off size and the cost of dealing with this issue, it represents about a fifth of the ACT's annual budget. Without such a loan arrangement, the ACT's capacity to deal with this issue would have been significantly curtailed and threatened the ACT's credit rating.

Senator Abetz has noted that this loan will ensure that the ACT government is in a position to deliver a well-structured remediation program over the coming years. The Commonwealth has also offered to provide in-kind assistance in the form of expertise to assist the ACT in developing the program. This has been a bipartisan issue and I acknowledge the contribution of Chief Minister Katy Gallagher, Senator Seselja, Senator Lundy, as well as the members for Canberra and Fraser. The latter two have spoken eloquently in this House today.

The reason I am speaking on this bill is that the loose-fill asbestos problem does not stop at the ACT border. We also have issues in my state of New South Wales. It is known that houses in my electorate in Eden-Monaro have been affected by Mr Fluffy activities, principally in the 1960s and 1970s.

On 15 August 2014, for the first time ever, despite the matter being known about for decades, the New South Wales coalition government announced that it would be conducting a New South Wales WorkCover investigation to assist in determining the number of properties affected by loose-fill asbestos in New South Wales and how those properties have been managed in the past. It is my understanding that so far 13 affected properties have been identified in New South Wales, but the full extent of the issue is unknown. The New South Wales government is undertaking an investigation carefully and methodically and is offering a free testing service for residents in potentially affected local council areas. That government will be considering the findings of the investigation once completed and possible measures to assist affected householders.

Further, I want to report to the House that I recently had discussions with both relevant federal and New South Wales ministers on this topic—that is, Senator Eric Abetz and the New South Wales Minister for Finance and Services, Dominic Perrottet. I want to note that they are both keen to work together to get the best outcome for the people adversely affected by loose-fill asbestos in their residences. Although it has only recently done so, the New South Wales government has now submitted to the federal government a request for financial assistance in the matter while acknowledging that it will have a part to play itself in financing.

I am supporting the New South Wales government in its approaches to the federal government and have previously written and spoken to the federal minister asking whether federal government assistance is possible. As I have said, the New South Wales government has been proactive in doing something about the issue. It is undertaking the New South Wales WorkCover inquiry. To date, that has led to the methodical checking of nearly 600 homes across the state. At this point I want to emphasise that this matter is not a Queanbeyan issue or an Eden-Monaro issue alone but a New South Wales issue. The WorkCover inquiry covers some 26 local council areas, with seven in Sydney alone. I am in the process of writing to all my federal colleagues whose council areas have houses that are being inspected. These include the council areas of Warringah and Manly, which are in the Prime Minister's electorate; North Sydney, which is in the Treasurer's electorate; and Albury, which is in the electorate of the Assistant Minister for Education. The list also includes the members for Berowra, Mackellar, Bennelong, Mitchell, Bradfield, Riverina, Banks and Hughes. I will ask them all to seriously consider the matters at hand and support any calls for federal assistance from the New South Wales government. With their support, I would hope that there is an increased chance of assistance.

This is a major public health matter, traumatic to those affected, and my job is to do what I can to assist my constituents, particularly in Queanbeyan. Finally, I thank the House and commend the bill.

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