❓ Hon. Kate Doust questions the Minister for Housing regarding vacant public housing properties in Bentley, given the long waiting list for public housing. The Minister acknowledges the issue and explains the reasons for vacancies.
AnsweredQoN 1027Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
PUBLIC HOUSING — VACANT PROPERTIES —
BENTLEY
1027. Hon KATE DOUST to the Minister for
Housing:
I refer to the recent article in the Southern
Gazette titled ''Bentley towers over empty statistics'' and
the statement by the Minister for Housing that he was not concerned about the
number of empty dwellings in Bentley.
(1) Given that we have more than 20 000
applicants waiting to be housed, should it not be the primary concern of the
minister to ensure that every government-owned home has somebody in need living
in it?
(2) If yes to (1), how can the minister
justify his statement in the Southern
Gazette ?
BENTLEY
1027. Hon KATE DOUST to the Minister for
Housing:
I refer to the recent article in the Southern
Gazette titled ''Bentley towers over empty statistics'' and
the statement by the Minister for Housing that he was not concerned about the
number of empty dwellings in Bentley.
(1) Given that we have more than 20 000
applicants waiting to be housed, should it not be the primary concern of the
minister to ensure that every government-owned home has somebody in need living
in it?
(2) If yes to (1), how can the minister
justify his statement in the Southern
Gazette ?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
the question.
(1)–(2)
As the member would know, housing is a very big portfolio that has more than 44
000 properties across the state. Some houses are empty from time to time when
refurbishments or maintenance are going on and, obviously, some in the Bentley
towers have been empty. My expectation is that they will be repaired or
refurbished as quickly as possible so that we can continue to house the people
we house, who are the most needy in our community. Meeting the needs of those
people is a complex matter that we have to deal with every day in Housing.
Sometimes they are empty for longer than I would like, but that is how it is
managed across the state.
the question.
(1)–(2)
As the member would know, housing is a very big portfolio that has more than 44
000 properties across the state. Some houses are empty from time to time when
refurbishments or maintenance are going on and, obviously, some in the Bentley
towers have been empty. My expectation is that they will be repaired or
refurbished as quickly as possible so that we can continue to house the people
we house, who are the most needy in our community. Meeting the needs of those
people is a complex matter that we have to deal with every day in Housing.
Sometimes they are empty for longer than I would like, but that is how it is
managed across the state.
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