Mr Fluffy homeowners met federal Employment Minister Eric Abetz on Monday ahead of a decision by the Commonwealth on its contribution to a mass buy-back and demolition scheme for the asbestos-contaminated homes.
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Senator Abetz would not discuss the meeting or comment on the issue, but it is clear a decision is clearly drawing closer.
The meeting included families from Canberra and Queanbeyan.
Queanbeyan is anxious that any federal funding or clean-up will include NSW, but Senator Abetz has given no indication to date that he is willing to consider extending any package. In August, his office said the focus was on Canberra
Fluffy Owners and Residents Action group spokesperson Brianna Heseltine led the homeowners who met with Senator Abetz. She said he had "listened with deep respect to the families as they conveyed the impact of the disaster on their lives", but she did not discuss the meeting further, saying the governments should now be left to consider their response in the hope a resolution might come as soon as possible.
The Commonwealth has said very little about the Fluffy crisis as the ACT has moved to set up a taskforce, provide emergency fund to families forced out of their homes, and gather the views of experts on what should be done with the 1000 homes. With the consensus settled around demolition, ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher has put details of how it might work to the Commonwealth and is now awaiting a response.
She has said before that she believes the Commonwealth should contribute in a two for one ratio, according to the original agreement signed after the clean-up of 20 years ago.
Ms Gallagher estimates the net cost to both governments after the land has been cleaned and sold back into private ownership at $300 million.
