General policy statement
The Bill amends the Housing Corporation Act 1974 to consolidate housing policy advice to Ministers within the Department of Building and Housing.
The Bill aims to better align the objectives and functions of the Corporation with government agencies. The Corporation will retain its operational policy capability to support its business activities, but will no longer be required to ensure that the Minister of Housing receives appropriate policy advice, or any other advice or information on housing and services related to housing.
In addition, the Corporation will no longer be expected to undertake research and monitoring activities for the purpose of advising the Minister of Housing on housing and services related to housing.
Clause by clause analysis
Clause 1 is the Title clause.
Clause 2 is the commencement clause. The effect of the commencement clause is that the Act comes into force on 1 July 2011 at the latest, but may be brought into force on an earlier date appointed by the Governor-General by Order in Council.
Clause 3 provides that the Act amends the Housing Corporation Act 1974.
Part 1
Amendments to principal Act
Clause 4 repeals section 3B and substitutes a new section 3B. The new section in fact largely restates the previous provision: the only change is that old section 3B(b) (relating to the provision of advice to the Minister of Housing) is dropped.
Clause 5 tidies up section 3C(1) following the change to section 3B.
Clause 6 amends section 18(2) by making clear that the Housing Corporation's research and monitoring function described in section 18(2)(j) does not include research and monitoring for the purpose of advising the Minister of Housing on those matters. It also repeals section 18(2)(k) since the Corporation's function of advising the Minister on housing falls away.
Part 2
Transitional matters
Clause 7 contains provisions that provide for the standard exclusion of entitlement to benefits for a technical redundancy. Those provisions will apply to employees of the Housing Corporation who accept positions in the Department of Building and Housing as a result of the removal from the Housing Corporation of its policy function in relation to housing.