❓ WA Parliamentary Question on Notice regarding public housing maintenance, asbestos, drug use, insurance, seniors, and security. The response provides data on asbestos identification, remediation, drug contamination processes, self-insurance, and the number of senior tenants.
AnsweredQoN 2151Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the maintenance and management of public housing stock in Western Australia, and I ask: (a) how many homes in the public housing stock were identified as having asbestos in: (i) 2021-22; (ii) 2022-23; and (iii) 2023-24; (b) for each of the homes in (a), how many require immediate work or are on a list for maintenance to occur; (c) how many homes in the public housing stock were identified as having methamphetamine use occur within the property for each of the years in (a); (d) does the Department of Communities track evidence of drug use across its public housing portfolio; (e) if yes to (d), how; (f) how is public housing insured; (g) what was the statewide cost of insuring public housing in 2023-24; (h) how many seniors (people aged over 65) are in public housing as of 30 June 2024; (i) are public housing tenants able to request fencing and other security alterations, such as alterations to windows; (j) if yes to (i), what policy governs consideration of these requests; (k) how does the Department of Communities test homes being transferred between residents for evidence of drug use; and (l) what process is undertaken to clean homes where drug use has occurred ahead of a new tenant taking up occupation of the property?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
15 October 2024
Responded by
Minister for Agriculture and Food representing the Minister for Planning; Lands; Housing; Homelessness
Response time
7 days
(a)
(i) 9,847
(ii) 9,576
(iii) 9,247
Please note figures quoted comprise assets identified as public housing stock in the Department of Communities’ (Communities) asbestos register system as at 30 June in each year.
(b) Asbestos may be present in some older housing stock in Western Australia. Communities manages asbestos according to risk and .. each property recorded in the asbestos register undergoes regular inspection to check condition and likelihood of disturbance for all items of asbestos.
(i) In 2021-22, 255 properties were identified requiring short-term remediation
(ii) In 2022-23, 230 properties were identified requiring short-term remediation
(iii) In 2023-24, 252 properties were identified requiring short-term remediation
(c-e) and (k-l) Where there is evidence or suspicion of the manufacture, use or cultivation of an illicit substance at a Communities property a forensic testing contractor is engaged to perform a swab test.
Remediation is required where the swab test indicates that a property is contaminated.
The process of remediating a drug contaminated property is tracked using Communities internal Drug Contamination Register.
The specific drug the property has been contaminated by is not recorded on the Drug Contamination Register, and therefore data specific to methamphetamine use is unable to be reported.
The Drug Contamination Register focuses on the scale of contamination that is suspected (prior to testing), as summarised below:
A. Clandestine Lab – Where it is suspected that methamphetamine, ecstasy, cannabis, or any other range of drugs has been produced often resulting in severe contamination.
B. Smoke House – Where it is suspected that meth, cannabis, tobacco, or other drugs have been smoked resulting in surface contamination.
C. Clandestine & Smoke – a mix of A & B.
D. Cannabis Growing – Large scale production of cannabis using hydroponics often resulting in extensive property damage, mould contamination, potentially unauthorised electrical works etc.
(f-g) Communities is self-insured and pays for the cost of its own repairs except where Tenant Liability applies.
Given that Communities self-insures its public housing stock it did not pay an insurance premium for public housing during 2023-24.
(h) As at 30 June 2024, a total of 12,892 householders in public housing tenancies were aged 65 years and over.
(i) Yes.
(j) The following policies govern consideration of the requests mentioned in (i) and are publicly available on the WA Government website:
(i) 9,847
(ii) 9,576
(iii) 9,247
Please note figures quoted comprise assets identified as public housing stock in the Department of Communities’ (Communities) asbestos register system as at 30 June in each year.
(b) Asbestos may be present in some older housing stock in Western Australia. Communities manages asbestos according to risk and .. each property recorded in the asbestos register undergoes regular inspection to check condition and likelihood of disturbance for all items of asbestos.
(i) In 2021-22, 255 properties were identified requiring short-term remediation
(ii) In 2022-23, 230 properties were identified requiring short-term remediation
(iii) In 2023-24, 252 properties were identified requiring short-term remediation
(c-e) and (k-l) Where there is evidence or suspicion of the manufacture, use or cultivation of an illicit substance at a Communities property a forensic testing contractor is engaged to perform a swab test.
Remediation is required where the swab test indicates that a property is contaminated.
The process of remediating a drug contaminated property is tracked using Communities internal Drug Contamination Register.
The specific drug the property has been contaminated by is not recorded on the Drug Contamination Register, and therefore data specific to methamphetamine use is unable to be reported.
The Drug Contamination Register focuses on the scale of contamination that is suspected (prior to testing), as summarised below:
A. Clandestine Lab – Where it is suspected that methamphetamine, ecstasy, cannabis, or any other range of drugs has been produced often resulting in severe contamination.
B. Smoke House – Where it is suspected that meth, cannabis, tobacco, or other drugs have been smoked resulting in surface contamination.
C. Clandestine & Smoke – a mix of A & B.
D. Cannabis Growing – Large scale production of cannabis using hydroponics often resulting in extensive property damage, mould contamination, potentially unauthorised electrical works etc.
(f-g) Communities is self-insured and pays for the cost of its own repairs except where Tenant Liability applies.
Given that Communities self-insures its public housing stock it did not pay an insurance premium for public housing during 2023-24.
(h) As at 30 June 2024, a total of 12,892 householders in public housing tenancies were aged 65 years and over.
(i) Yes.
(j) The following policies govern consideration of the requests mentioned in (i) and are publicly available on the WA Government website:
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