❓ Hon Steve Martin asks about public housing complaints related to drug activity and the resulting actions. The Department of Housing and Works states that specific drug activity data isn't captured, but provides data on 'illegal use of premises' complaints.
AnsweredQoN 503Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to public housing complaints in relation to drug activity, and I ask: (a) for each of the financial years 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25 and year-to-date 2025-26: (i) how many complaints were received alleging drug activity at public housing properties; (ii) how many of those complaints resulted in tenancy compliance action; and (iii) how many of those complaints were referred to Western Australian Police?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 October 2025
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Housing and Works
Response time
7 days
a) i – iii)
The Department of Housing and Works (the Department) investigates disruptive behaviour complaints in accordance with its obligations under the Residential Tenancies Act 1987 . The Department is not a law enforcement agency and does not have the power to investigate suspected illegal activities.
Suspected illegal activity at a public housing property must first be reported to WA Police before reporting it to Housing and Works online or via the Housing Direct contact centre. The Department will investigate allegations to determine whether the tenant has breached the Residential Tenancies Act 1987 alongside any criminal investigation by WA Police.
Data for the number of complaints relating to drugs activity is not captured in a reportable data table. Providing this data would require a manual review of individual case files and is not considered a reasonable use of government resources.
The Department does capture the number of complaints relating to illegal use of premises, which captures any alleged unlawful activity that a tenant causes, permits or allows at the proporty. Data is provided below:
· FY 2020-21: 183
· FY 2021-22: 100
· FY 2022-23: 115
· FY 2023-24: 117
· FY 2024-25: 137
· FYTD 2025-26: 9
The number of complaints relating to illegal use of premises reflects less than 0.5 percent of all public housing tenancies.
With regards to referring complaints to WA Police, this is not captured as part of regular reporting but is contained in individual case files. The Department maintains ongoing engagement with WA Police when they are required to liaise on the small number of matters relating to alleged illegal activity.
The Department of Housing and Works (the Department) investigates disruptive behaviour complaints in accordance with its obligations under the Residential Tenancies Act 1987 . The Department is not a law enforcement agency and does not have the power to investigate suspected illegal activities.
Suspected illegal activity at a public housing property must first be reported to WA Police before reporting it to Housing and Works online or via the Housing Direct contact centre. The Department will investigate allegations to determine whether the tenant has breached the Residential Tenancies Act 1987 alongside any criminal investigation by WA Police.
Data for the number of complaints relating to drugs activity is not captured in a reportable data table. Providing this data would require a manual review of individual case files and is not considered a reasonable use of government resources.
The Department does capture the number of complaints relating to illegal use of premises, which captures any alleged unlawful activity that a tenant causes, permits or allows at the proporty. Data is provided below:
· FY 2020-21: 183
· FY 2021-22: 100
· FY 2022-23: 115
· FY 2023-24: 117
· FY 2024-25: 137
· FYTD 2025-26: 9
The number of complaints relating to illegal use of premises reflects less than 0.5 percent of all public housing tenancies.
With regards to referring complaints to WA Police, this is not captured as part of regular reporting but is contained in individual case files. The Department maintains ongoing engagement with WA Police when they are required to liaise on the small number of matters relating to alleged illegal activity.
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