Question Number: 1085

Senator Scott Ludlam asked the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations, in writing, on 29 August 2011:

With reference to the Aboriginal people of central Australia and the north west of Western Australia who were exposed to radioactive fallout or direct radiation exposure from atomic weapons testing by the British Nuclear Test Program of the 1950s and 1960s.

(1) Has the Government ever undertaken a study into the number of Aboriginal people exposed to fallout or direct radiation exposure and the nature of their injuries; if so, can the findings of these studies be provided.
(2) Is the Government aware of how many Aboriginal people exposed to the impacts of these tests are still alive; if so, how many.
(3) Is the Government aware of whether any compensation, in the form of money, legal advice, healthcare or any other form of assistance has ever been offered to Aboriginal people exposed to these tests.
(4) Are there currently any government programs, advice lines, funds, or other forms of assistance in place for Aboriginal victims of atomic weapons testing; if not, what does the Government intend to do to provide redress for those exposed to the harmful impacts of nuclear weapons testing.
(5) Is the Government satisfied that justice has been done to those who were exposed to nuclear weapons tests.

Senator Evans- The answer to the honourable Senator's question is as follows:

1) The responsibility for this matter falls within the resources, energy and tourism portfolio. The Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism has provided the following response:

Question No. 721

Senator Ludlam asked the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, in writing, on 29 June 2011:
Given that the 2011-12 Budget provided $100 million in funding for the new Building Better Regional Cities program for ‘local housing infrastructure projects that will help build ... more affordable homes in high growth regional cities over the next three years' and that 47 regional cities, with populations over 30 000, have been invited to participate in the program.

(1) With reference to the program's website which states ‘funding will only be awarded to cities that provide robust evidence of future jobs growth and can show how many extra affordable homes will be created as a result of the proposed projects':
(a) how will applicants be required to quantify and define the ‘extra affordable homes' they will deliver, if successful in the application process;
(b) in relation to the specific delivery of extra affordable homes, what criteria will be used to assess applications; and
(c) how will ‘extra affordable homes' be measured and reported on as part of this program.

(2) Will any type of formal housing needs analysis be required from the regional cities as part of their application process.

(3) Will all forms of tenure, that is, affordable home ownership, affordable rental and social rental, be included in this scheme.

(4) What are the program targets for housing under each of the following bands identified by the National Affordable Housing Summit:
(a) Band A (rent is kept under 25 per cent of tenants' income);
(b) Band B (rent is 20 per cent less than the market rate for at least 10 years); and
(c) Band C (home purchase programs for low to moderate incomes).

Question No. 716

Senator Ludlam asked the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, in writing, on 29 June 2011:
With reference to the answer to question on notice no. 75 taken on notice during the 2010-11 additional estimates hearings of the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee, which reported that the department does not keep data on vacant commercial space:
(1) Can the Minister advise which, if any, department currently keeps and collects data on vacant commercial space.
(2) Does the department recognise the potential to transform vacant commercial buildings into affordable rental spaces.
(3) Has the department done any research at all into the kind of incentives needed to make this attractive for property owners.
(4) Will the Minister instruct the National Housing Supply Council to collect data on vacant commercial space; if not, why not.

Senator Conroy: The Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities has provided the following answer to the honourable Senator's question:

1. The department is not aware of any Australian Government agency that collects and maintains data on vacant commercial space.

Question No. 593

Senator Ludlam: To ask the Minister representing the Treasurer-Given that the department's brief to the incoming Government (the ‘Red Book'), warned of Australia's worsening housing affordability, along with problems of low density living, declining amenity and growing congestion, stating that such issues resulted from fractured and ineffective governance arrangements, and that the department advised the incoming Government to enhance the effectiveness of funding to help Australians in terms of housing, to investigate taxation and planning reforms, and to expedite National Urban Policy Reform, which includes a Housing Supply and Affordability Reform agenda:
(1) How is the department:
(a) investigating taxation and planning reforms;
(b) expediting the National Urban Policy Reform; and
(c) contributing to the Council of Australian Governments' Housing Supply and Affordability Reform agenda.
(2) What resources are devoted specifically to housing affordability, including full time equivalents and specific work units within the department.
(3) Given that sprawl costs an estimated $343 million extra per 1 000 lots, when compared to infill development, how is the department currently:
(a) factoring in the costs of fringe development to the economy; and
(b) working to determine whether land use and the construction industry are being utilised as efficiently as possible.