Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Hansard source

Can I acknowledge Senator Seselja's longstanding interest and advocacy in this matter and, in sending a bouquet to Senator Seselja, I will also send one to Senator Lundy and to the two members of the House of Representatives who represent the ACT, along with the ACT Chief Minister, for their very cooperative approach in seeking an outcome that will be of benefit for the 1,000-plus Mr Fluffy homeowners in the ACT who clearly want and need certainty and the assurance that there is a way forward.

So I am delighted to inform the Senate that earlier today I was joined by the Chief Minister of the ACT to announce that the Commonwealth would assist the ACT in its task by providing a concessional loan of up to $1,000 million, to deliver a program to buy back and demolish houses in the ACT affected by Mr Fluffy loose-fill asbestos. This facility will allow the ACT to borrow up to $1,000 million at the Commonwealth interest rate for a period of 10 years, allowing savings of approximately $32 million over the life of the loan. This in-principle agreement will provide certainty for the Mr Fluffy homeowners and residents in the ACT and will assure them that help is on the way and that a program set up by the ACT government will shortly commence. The loan will ensure that the ACT is in a position to deliver a well-structured remediation program over coming years. The ACT will be responsible for the program and its administration. Can I finish where I started by acknowledging the very cooperative approach of all representatives from the ACT in this matter.