Carol Brown (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | Hansard source

I thank senators for their constructive contributions in this debate. The bill strengthens local governance and decision-making and assists the council with issuing homeownership-style leases. If community members wish to do so, they can take out a lease that will provide the intergenerational benefits of homeownership. The council has advised that it will offer these leases when houses are in a reasonable state of repair. I'm delighted that the government recently committed $45.1 million so that all houses in Wreck Bay village can be upgraded and new houses constructed. This housing investment will be rolled out in a partnership between government and the council and will deliver local employment opportunities.

I'd like to thank the Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills and colleagues across this chamber for their suggestions, which resulted in the four government amendments. Finally, I want to acknowledge and thank the community, particularly the council board members past and present, for working with the Australian government to jointly design these reforms. Some reforms were proposed by the community; others were suggested by government. Every reform in this bill, including the government amendments, has been explicitly endorsed by the council board. It is an example of shared decision-making under Closing the Gap. I table an addendum to the explanatory memorandum relating to this bill and an addendum in response to matters raised by the Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.