The ACT Government must complete minimum energy efficient standards for public housing properties by the end of 2025, Canberra Liberals MLA Mark Parton, Shadow Minister for Housing, says.

Mr Parton said that when Labor-Greens government announced that from April 1 this year, minimum energy efficiency standards for rental properties would commence, they had no idea how many public housing properties would need upgrades. 

“The ACT Government has conceded that at least 5,000 properties require the upgrades and have received $7.2 million in funding from the Commonwealth to assist,” Mr Parton said.

“It’s fascinating that the ACT Government needs Commonwealth assistance to meet its own minimum standards legislation, but no such help is offered either to private landlords or Community Housing Providers.

“The ACT Government proports to be a model landlord, but in reality, they are often one of the worst landlords in Canberra.

“Today I am calling on the Labor-Greens government to expediate the roll out of the program, to commit to on-going upgrades to ensure all public housing properties remain complaint, and to provide a rebate for those homes that do not meet the minimum standard.

“Will this be another example of the ACT Labor-Greens government imposing a policy on landlords but failing to adhere to those same rules and regulations as the largest landlord in Canberra?”