Aluminium Composite Cladding

Mr BATTY (Bragg) (14:58): My question is again to the Minister for Planning. When will the government's limited loan scheme for dangerous flammable cladding open and close? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr BATTY: I am advised that the minister told my constituents to apply for the loan scheme quickly because it won't be there forever.

The Hon. N.D. CHAMPION (Taylor—Minister for Trade and Investment, Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Minister for Planning) (14:58): Well, that's exactly right. There is no surprise in that. I do find it a little odd that the opposition would ask these questions after spending—how long; that's right—the entire term of government doing nothing.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. N.D. CHAMPION: It's a bit rich, but anyway, there will be a period of consultation. We have appointed Wendy Campana. Wendy will be talking to—I've got past the partisan bit, so you might want to listen to this. What will happen is that Ms Wendy Campana will spend her time talking to the owners of these apartments and the body corporates involved. It is a serious issue, and the member for Bragg is, I think, genuinely interested.

There will be that two-month period. We anticipate the loans being available from next year. Of course I want people to get moving on accessing these loans because it has been a long time to live with this risk. As we know, in some apartment blocks there are some people who want to act immediately and some people who perhaps don't have the capacity or the willingness to act. I am unashamedly saying to those apartment owners: 'Get on with it.' I think that is not an unreasonable thing for the government to do, given that we are taking taxpayers' money—

Mr Tarzia: When is it opening?

The Hon. N.D. CHAMPION: Well, I said from next year, Vincent. You might want to listen.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. N.D. CHAMPION: You might want to listen. They will be available from next year. That's quite clear.

The SPEAKER: The minister has the call.

Mr Tarzia interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Hartley knows better. The minister has the call.

The Hon. N.D. CHAMPION: Given you took four years of doing nothing—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. N.D. CHAMPION: Members opposite spent four years—four long years—doing nothing, doing absolutely nothing. Now there is this sudden need for urgency. It's a bit much. We are going to go about this in a coordinated way. We have appointed Wendy Campana, and she is going to talk to these people about accessing the loans and about getting the quotes. Often these building owners need to get quotes involved and they need to talk to their insurance agencies. A whole range of things need to be put in place because this is a complex matter and we do want to get on with it.