MATTERS OF URGENCY

Senator DAVID POCOCK (Australian Capital Territory—Independent ACT Whip) (17:23): Here in the ACT, hundreds of Canberrans have contacted me with concerns about the divestment of the Fairbairn golf course. These are real and genuine concerns. First, the course could be lost to the community for good.

Second, the club signed a new five-year lease with Defence in just July last year, when they would have known that they were going to divest this piece of land. Third, there are very serious questions about PFAS contamination, which remain unanswered. Ther is a community petition to secure the future of the golf course, which now has more than 4,000 signatures.

This is a beloved community asset. The primary concern raised with me, which will shock no senators here, is the total lack of consultation with the club or the broader defence and veterans community about plans for the site. A community session was finally held in May, three months after the decision was announced.

Consultation after the fact is not consultation. That, to me, seems like box ticking. And it appears that this has been repeated across the country, from what I'm hearing from senators from other states and territories.

Divestment may make sense in some cases, particularly where it includes affordable housing. I have a bill before the Senate that goes to exactly this issue. When the government is divesting land for housing, at least 30 per cent of it needs to be truly affordable housing.

We may not be able to lower the prices of building materials, but the government can lower the price of land when they are selling and ensure that we have a 30 per cent minimum of affordable housing. I agree that we should pause this while we work out what is actually happening and until we have a very firm commitment for 30 per cent of dwellings to be social and affordable housing.

The PRESIDENT: The question is that the motion as moved by Senator Lambie be agreed to.