Baillie ChrisCHRIS BAILLIE (ACT): I rise to take a call on the Education and Workforce Committee's student accommodation inquiry. The purpose of the inquiry was to look at the existing situation with student welfare and the availability of places for students to live. The experience of leaving home meeting new people and experiencing new things can be a daunting thought for both students and parents. What's more important than caring for our kids making sure that they're safe and happy? The inquiry endeavoured to find out the issues and put processes in place to minimise the stresses of being a student.Having spent a very short time in Weir House while studying at Victoria University I can't really speak from experience and I was lucky to find alternative accommodation when the hall life didn't suit me. But it was a lot easier way back in the 1980s. Ultimately the issue of student accommodation or lack of it is a housing issue and there are just not enough places. Students are being encouraged to do further study and not a lot of thought has gone into where they'll live. Housing and the hall stock are just not keeping up. Lack of competition in the rental market has flow-on effects and correcting this imbalance is a huge part of ACT's housing policy.Private providers are fulfilling an important role in alleviating the shortage problem and providing accommodation for those students who prefer the independence and ability to prepare for life after study. These providers are often chosen by the student as part of the experience and as with all landlords there are standards that should be met. Monitoring that this happens should follow landlord-tenant arrangements. Most parents would ensure that this happens if they were worried about their child's welfare and most landlords want to provide a good service.It became apparent through the submission process that not all student accommodation was bad. In fact most enjoyed the hall environment. But a number of issues that have been highlighted could be managed better. I feel a number of the submitters expressing a positive view of hall life didn't really get a fair hearing and their positive views were often dismissed or even viewed as having another agenda. These were students who had gone through the system—not the providers who have a reason to say good things. These students had good stories to tell.Student welfare must be a top priority when thinking about the big step from home to some form of study. As I mentioned the experience can be quite daunting and parents have enough stress in their lives than to be constantly worrying about their studying child. There needs to be a structure an understanding and standards to be met by the providers but we must be careful not to quickly lay blame should matters arise. The residential assistants or the RAs need to be looked after trained well and have clear guidelines to enable them to take on the challenge of other students' problems. Students need to know where to go and who to talk to if they are experiencing difficulties.Students must also be constantly reminded that they chose to leave home—in most cases but that is another matter—and start their life adventure. Too often the age demographic that we're looking at want the rights of taxpaying adults but the responsibilities of children and I say that as a father of 18-year-old twin girls. There's a happy medium. I welcome the recommendations of the committee but urge caution with the way they are enacted. Thank you.