❓ WA Parliamentary Question on Notice regarding disruptive behaviour in public housing facilities. The response provides data on complaints, investigations, and eviction notices, while also defending the government's housing policies and criticising the opposition's approach.
AnsweredQoN 566Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to recent concerns of antisocial and illegal behaviour at a number of public housing facilities, and I ask: (a) How many complaints have been made to the Disruptive Behaviour Reporting line each month for the 12 months to July 31, 2025; (b) How many tenants are currently the subject of a Disruptive Behaviour investigation; and (c) How many tenants have been issued with an eviction notice each month over the 12 months to July 31, 2025?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 October 2025
Responded by
Minister for Housing and Works
Response time
6 days
(a) Public housing does not represent a community safety concern and the vast majority of public housing tenants will occupy their homes without any complaints. It is disappointing that the Liberal Party repeatedly attempts to link public housing to criminality.
The Cook Government's delivery of more than 3,500 social homes, and refurbishments to hundreds more, means that there is a greater proportion of active tenancies now than under the former Liberal government, which held homes vacant and derelict.
Not all complaints proceed to investigation as they may not constitute disruptive behaviour, such as children playing around the property or bins not being brought in the day of collection. Multiple complaints may be received for a single incident, and by the same complainant or they may prove to be spurious complaints.
Action is only taken where complaints meet policy thresholds and are supported by sufficient evidence.
‘Complaints’ made to the Disruptive Behaviour Reporting line:
· August 2024: 1,326
· September 2024: 1,579
· October 2024: 1,559
· November 2024: 1,495
· December 2024: 1,516
· January 2025: 1,654
· February 2025: 1,616
· March 2025: 1,608
· April 2025: 1,500
· May 2025: 1,653
· June 2025: 1,515
· July 2025: 1,345
(b) Under the Department of Housing and Works’ Disruptive Behaviour Management Policy, all complaints are assessed against established criteria. Not all complaints proceed to investigation as they may not constitute disruptive behaviour, such as children playing around the property or bins not being brought in the day of collection. Multiple complaints may be received for a single incident, and by the same complainant or they may prove to be spurious complaints. Action is only taken where complaints meet policy thresholds and are supported by sufficient evidence.
Investigations:
· August 2024: 696
· September 2024: 766
· October 2024: 769
· November 2024: 801
· December 2024: 780
· January 2025: 833
· February 2025: 789
· March 2025: 745
· April 2025: 596
· May 2025: 549
· June 2025: 317
· July 2025: 418
(c) The Department of Housing and Works works with tenants to ensure they are given every opportunity to rectify the issues impacting on their tenancy. Where a tenant is at risk of termination, the Department will increase their contact with the client and link them with relevant support services to help address the issues impacting their tenancy and, in most cases, people remedy the issues impacting their tenancy.
Bailiff evictions follow where tenants repeatedly and egregiously fail to rectify their behaviour or engage with the Department to sustain their tenancies.
The decision to evict rests with a Magistrate. A Magistrate will only make an order for vacant possession if they are satisfied that there has been a breach of the tenancy agreement and that the tenant has been given every opportunity to rectify the breach and failed to do so.
Termination notices issued:
· August 2024: 262
· September 2024: 232
· October 2024: 235
· November 2024: 269
· December 2024: 118
· January 2025: 321
· February 2025: 211
· March 2025: 237
· April 2025: 238
· May 2025: 293
· June 2025: 301
· July 2025: 303
The Cook Government's delivery of more than 3,500 social homes, and refurbishments to hundreds more, means that there is a greater proportion of active tenancies now than under the former Liberal government, which held homes vacant and derelict.
Not all complaints proceed to investigation as they may not constitute disruptive behaviour, such as children playing around the property or bins not being brought in the day of collection. Multiple complaints may be received for a single incident, and by the same complainant or they may prove to be spurious complaints.
Action is only taken where complaints meet policy thresholds and are supported by sufficient evidence.
‘Complaints’ made to the Disruptive Behaviour Reporting line:
· August 2024: 1,326
· September 2024: 1,579
· October 2024: 1,559
· November 2024: 1,495
· December 2024: 1,516
· January 2025: 1,654
· February 2025: 1,616
· March 2025: 1,608
· April 2025: 1,500
· May 2025: 1,653
· June 2025: 1,515
· July 2025: 1,345
(b) Under the Department of Housing and Works’ Disruptive Behaviour Management Policy, all complaints are assessed against established criteria. Not all complaints proceed to investigation as they may not constitute disruptive behaviour, such as children playing around the property or bins not being brought in the day of collection. Multiple complaints may be received for a single incident, and by the same complainant or they may prove to be spurious complaints. Action is only taken where complaints meet policy thresholds and are supported by sufficient evidence.
Investigations:
· August 2024: 696
· September 2024: 766
· October 2024: 769
· November 2024: 801
· December 2024: 780
· January 2025: 833
· February 2025: 789
· March 2025: 745
· April 2025: 596
· May 2025: 549
· June 2025: 317
· July 2025: 418
(c) The Department of Housing and Works works with tenants to ensure they are given every opportunity to rectify the issues impacting on their tenancy. Where a tenant is at risk of termination, the Department will increase their contact with the client and link them with relevant support services to help address the issues impacting their tenancy and, in most cases, people remedy the issues impacting their tenancy.
Bailiff evictions follow where tenants repeatedly and egregiously fail to rectify their behaviour or engage with the Department to sustain their tenancies.
The decision to evict rests with a Magistrate. A Magistrate will only make an order for vacant possession if they are satisfied that there has been a breach of the tenancy agreement and that the tenant has been given every opportunity to rectify the breach and failed to do so.
Termination notices issued:
· August 2024: 262
· September 2024: 232
· October 2024: 235
· November 2024: 269
· December 2024: 118
· January 2025: 321
· February 2025: 211
· March 2025: 237
· April 2025: 238
· May 2025: 293
· June 2025: 301
· July 2025: 303
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