❓ A member of parliament questions the Minister for Disability Services regarding a new disability accommodation facility, specifically about community consultation, tenant details, and security. The Minister strongly rebukes the security question, deeming it discriminatory.
AnsweredQoN 240Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
DISABILITY
SERVICES — BEDFORD YOUTH HOSTEL
240. Hon AMBER-JADE SANDERSON to the Minister for Disability Services:
I refer to the new facility that is being constructed on the
former Bedford Youth Hostel site at 79 Grand Promenade in Bedford.
(1) What are
the details of any consultation with the local community area about the
proposed development that has occurred in the past 12 months and when did it
occur?
(2) If no consultation has taken place, why?
(3) Who is expected to tenant the six-bed emergency
accommodation facility?
(4) Will these be short-term or long-term residents?
(5) Will there
be a requirement for extra security at the new facility; and, if so, what form
will this take?
SERVICES — BEDFORD YOUTH HOSTEL
240. Hon AMBER-JADE SANDERSON to the Minister for Disability Services:
I refer to the new facility that is being constructed on the
former Bedford Youth Hostel site at 79 Grand Promenade in Bedford.
(1) What are
the details of any consultation with the local community area about the
proposed development that has occurred in the past 12 months and when did it
occur?
(2) If no consultation has taken place, why?
(3) Who is expected to tenant the six-bed emergency
accommodation facility?
(4) Will these be short-term or long-term residents?
(5) Will there
be a requirement for extra security at the new facility; and, if so, what form
will this take?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of the question.
(1)–(2)
Building a residential property in a residential area does not require
consultation to be undertaken. The Disability Services Commission has experience
in establishing residential homes for people with disability. This is part of
the commission's focus on the community inclusion of people with
disability. The commission manages more than 100 community-based houses for
people in the metropolitan area.
In this instance, the proposal for
the house was submitted to the City of Bayswater so that those interested in
the development could provide comment on it. The Bedford site land, however, is
owned by the government so the City of Bayswater forwarded the development
proposal to the Western Australian Planning Commission.
(3)–(4)
Young people with disability will move into the house at 79 Grand Promenade,
Bedford. All residents will be short term.
(5) I am
greatly dismayed by this question. Is the honourable member implying that all
people with disability are criminals and communities need protection from them?
People with disability are valued members of our community and deserve the same
levels of privacy and respect as the rest of our community. The security
measures at this house will be determined by the commission and the residents
to best meet their requirements. No security is needed over and above what is
usually provided for a new house located anywhere in the community. These young
people, some of whom have been attending schools and other community activities
in other suburbs, will continue to enjoy all aspects of community life
supported by the commission. The member should be ashamed of herself.
(1)–(2)
Building a residential property in a residential area does not require
consultation to be undertaken. The Disability Services Commission has experience
in establishing residential homes for people with disability. This is part of
the commission's focus on the community inclusion of people with
disability. The commission manages more than 100 community-based houses for
people in the metropolitan area.
In this instance, the proposal for
the house was submitted to the City of Bayswater so that those interested in
the development could provide comment on it. The Bedford site land, however, is
owned by the government so the City of Bayswater forwarded the development
proposal to the Western Australian Planning Commission.
(3)–(4)
Young people with disability will move into the house at 79 Grand Promenade,
Bedford. All residents will be short term.
(5) I am
greatly dismayed by this question. Is the honourable member implying that all
people with disability are criminals and communities need protection from them?
People with disability are valued members of our community and deserve the same
levels of privacy and respect as the rest of our community. The security
measures at this house will be determined by the commission and the residents
to best meet their requirements. No security is needed over and above what is
usually provided for a new house located anywhere in the community. These young
people, some of whom have been attending schools and other community activities
in other suburbs, will continue to enjoy all aspects of community life
supported by the commission. The member should be ashamed of herself.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.