❓ Hon. Steve Martin questions the Minister for Housing about programs supporting public housing tenants and accuses the government of shifting responsibility for antisocial behaviour onto communities. The Minister defends public housing tenants and highlights existing support services.
AnsweredQoN 978Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
PUBLIC HOUSING —
COMMUNITY SAFETY
978. Hon STEVE MARTIN to the minister representing the
Minister for Housing:
I refer to community safety and
public housing.
(1) Noting that
there were 250 participants in the Thrive program in 2022–23 and 14 825
disruptive behaviour complaints in the same
year, what other programs exist to support public housing tenants to address
concerns and improve their behaviour?
(2) Is the Cook
Labor government shifting responsibility onto local communities, asking them to
simply put up with crime and antisocial behaviour?
COMMUNITY SAFETY
978. Hon STEVE MARTIN to the minister representing the
Minister for Housing:
I refer to community safety and
public housing.
(1) Noting that
there were 250 participants in the Thrive program in 2022–23 and 14 825
disruptive behaviour complaints in the same
year, what other programs exist to support public housing tenants to address
concerns and improve their behaviour?
(2) Is the Cook
Labor government shifting responsibility onto local communities, asking them to
simply put up with crime and antisocial behaviour?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The following response has been provided by the
Minister for Housing.
(1)–(2) Public
housing does not represent a community safety concern. The vast majority of
public housing tenants will occupy their homes for years without any
complaints. It is disappointing that the Liberal Party would seek to link
public housing to criminality. Given that the member was part of the inquiry
into the financial administration of homelessness services in Western Australia
and supported action to increase the focus on prevention and early intervention
of homelessness, it is regrettable that he would seek to position himself
against vulnerable Western Australians in need of housing support.
The Department of Communities works
with a range of services, including mental health services, community legal
centres, Aboriginal medical services, disability support providers, aged care,
education services, financial counselling and domestic violence support
services to support tenants. When a tenant is at risk of eviction, Communities
will increase its contact with the client and link them with relevant supports
to help address the issues impacting their tenancy and, in most cases, people
remedy the issues impacting their tenancy.
It should be noted that the figure of
14 825 represents all complaints received by Communities. Not all complaints
constitute disruptive behaviour, given that multiple complaints may be received
for a single incident by the same complainant. Some complaints may be brought
against properties not held by the department or may be spurious.
some notice of the question. The following response has been provided by the
Minister for Housing.
(1)–(2) Public
housing does not represent a community safety concern. The vast majority of
public housing tenants will occupy their homes for years without any
complaints. It is disappointing that the Liberal Party would seek to link
public housing to criminality. Given that the member was part of the inquiry
into the financial administration of homelessness services in Western Australia
and supported action to increase the focus on prevention and early intervention
of homelessness, it is regrettable that he would seek to position himself
against vulnerable Western Australians in need of housing support.
The Department of Communities works
with a range of services, including mental health services, community legal
centres, Aboriginal medical services, disability support providers, aged care,
education services, financial counselling and domestic violence support
services to support tenants. When a tenant is at risk of eviction, Communities
will increase its contact with the client and link them with relevant supports
to help address the issues impacting their tenancy and, in most cases, people
remedy the issues impacting their tenancy.
It should be noted that the figure of
14 825 represents all complaints received by Communities. Not all complaints
constitute disruptive behaviour, given that multiple complaints may be received
for a single incident by the same complainant. Some complaints may be brought
against properties not held by the department or may be spurious.
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