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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-04-11 Daily Xml
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ADELAIDE WORKERS' HOMES BILL

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 20 March 2013.)

Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (15:36): I indicate that I am the lead speaker for this piece of legislation on behalf of the opposition; however, it won't take very long at all. The opposition will be supporting the changes to the Adelaide Workmen's Homes Incorporated Amendment Act 1966, which replaced the private act of parliament, the Adelaide Workmen's Homes Incorporated Act 1933.

Adelaide Workmen's Homes Incorporated was established on 30 September 1898. A private act of parliament in 1933 and again in 1966 ensured that the trust deed was appropriate to modern-day development and business practices. In keeping with the progressive nature of the organisation's establishment in 1898 and subsequent acts of parliament in 1933 and 1966, this bill seeks to ensure that this organisation maintains a contemporary appearance and substance, whilst continuing its commitment to those in need of affordable and suitable housing.

In summary, the bill seeks to: establish a new constitution for the organisation, which can only occur by legislative amendment; change the name of the organisation from the 'Adelaide Workmen's Homes' to 'Adelaide Workers' Homes', as they have always housed people regardless of their gender; remove the limit which prevents property ownership more than 100 miles from the Adelaide GPO; and provide additional flexibility to the trustees to manage the organisation, to change their name, enter into development partnerships, etc. It is expected that the changes contained in this bill will allow Adelaide Workers' Homes to serve more South Australians in a wider range of areas.

I have some background on the trust. The trust has grown substantially since 1898 and now owns more than 200 properties throughout Richmond, Mile End and Norwood. The variety and location of dwellings owned by Adelaide Workers' Homes has responded to changing demographics and market requirements. The preponderance of near-city homes equates not only to the requirements of the original trust deed but also to the need for workers to be in ready proximity to their employment.

Today, Adelaide Workers' Homes owns property and/or houses in Richmond, Mile End and Norwood, as I have said. The stock includes: one-bedroom units for the aged; houses constructed during the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s and the 1980s. They also have a maintenance workshop, unit-style accommodation, cluster homes and they are building or own new medium-density two and three-storey three-bedroom townhouses and homes. The current value of the portfolio is approximately $35 million and capital reserves have been utilised over the years to improve and extend the housing stock held by the group.

Reviews are conducted on a regular basis to ensure the best use of the group's resources. Updating of the constitution will ensure the organisation's purpose of providing housing for workers, former workers and their associates and that, in the event of AWH ceasing operations, any surplus assets will be provided to another benevolent institution with a similar purpose.

The day-to-day management and administration of AWH, together with the bookkeeping and accounting functions, are conducted by Mr Grant Stephens from MJS Management Services Pty Ltd. Management functions include rental, maintenance and portfolio reviews. I thank the minister and his staff for their cooperation in giving me briefings on this and providing some of these notes. The opposition looks forward to a rapid progression of this bill.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light—Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (15:40): I would just like to thank the honourable member for his support for this bill.

Bill read a second time.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER (15:41): This bill seeks to vary the trust by applying provisions to Adelaide Workmen's Homes Incorporated in addition to the indenture deed of trust and the Associations Incorporation Act 1985 to provide a legislative constitution and to clarify that the association may exercise the powers and functions to give effect to its purpose. The parliament has been requested to enable the trustees (board) to borrow money, acquire and dispose of real property to enter into joint venture and receive donations and testamentary dispositions to the benefit of those trustees and not all trustees generally.

Two previous private acts of parliament have amended the deed of trust of Adelaide Workmen's Homes Incorporated. While the current bill by its nature is a private bill, it has been introduced by the government and therefore the application of the joint standing orders as they apply to private bills is not relevant. This leaves the provisions of the joint standing orders as they apply to hybrid bills.

The joint standing orders provide for two forms of hybrid bill. The first is a bill introduced by the government whose object is to promote the interests of one or more municipal corporations or local bodies and not those of municipal corporations of local bodies generally. The second is a bill introduced by the government authorising the granting of crown or wastelands to an individual person, a company, a corporation or a local body.

Clearly, the bill does not fit the second category, but it does fit the first because, by virtue of the principal act's status as a private act, the Adelaide Workmen's Homes Incorporated (the current trustees) is a local body. Based on the precedence established by this house and the consistent application of the joint standing orders and the principles that guide the consideration of such bills, I rule the bill to be hybrid.

Referred to Select Committee

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light—Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (15:42): In view of your ruling, I move:

That this bill be referred to a select committee pursuant to joint standing order (private bills) No. 2.

Motion carried.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: I move:

That a committee be appointed consisting of Ms Bettison, Mr Odenwalder, Ms Chapman, Dr McFetridge and the mover.

Motion carried.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: I move:

That the committee have the power to send for persons, papers and records and to adjourn from place to place and that it report later today.

Motion carried.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: I move:

That standing order 339 be and remain so far suspended as to enable the select committee to authorise the disclosure or publication, as it sees fit, of any evidence presented to the committee prior to such evidence being reported to the house.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: There is not an absolute majority. Ring the bells.

An absolute majority of the whole number of members being present:

Motion carried.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: I move:

That the select committee have leave to sit during the sitting of the house today.

Motion carried.

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