Canberra Liberals MLA Chiaka Barry brought a motion to the Assembly calling on the ACT Government to table a cost comparison between the current outsourcing of Housing ACT’s public housing maintenance and repairs works to an external contractor and a recent insourcing trial, which occurred ahead of all these works being brought in-house as of 2028.
The ACT Greens moved amendments to the motion making minor changes and expanding the information required to be tabled, which were unanimously agreed to by the Assembly.
Thomas spoke in support of the motion and the Greens’ amendments. In his remarks, Thomas acknowledged that public housing residents are not getting the services they need and deserve, and that only 71 per cent of public housing properties in the ACT meet the definition of being ‘of an acceptable standard’ according to the Productivity Commission — the second-lowest proportion in the country.
The motion, as amended, received the unanimous support of the Assembly.