❓ Hon. Neil Thomson questions the Minister for Planning regarding delays in reopening the Ruah Safe Night Space, while the Minister's response shifts blame to the City of Perth for hindering the process despite state government support and funding.
AnsweredQoN 737Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
RUAH SAFE NIGHT SPACE
737. Hon NEIL THOMSON to the minister representing the
Minister for Planning:
My question without notice, of which
some notice has been given, is to the Minister for Women's Interests. I
refer to the delays in the Ruah Safe Night Space.
(1) Is the
minister aware that the James Street Safe Night Space matter has now been with
state government for over 100 days?
(2) Does the minister consider this
delay acceptable?
(3) When will a decision be made?
(4) How can the
government justify this delay when City of Perth council voted unanimously to
allow the reopening of the service on James Street back in February?
(5) Is the state
government continuing to make funding available to Ruah to operate this
service, even though the service is not operating?
737. Hon NEIL THOMSON to the minister representing the
Minister for Planning:
My question without notice, of which
some notice has been given, is to the Minister for Women's Interests. I
refer to the delays in the Ruah Safe Night Space.
(1) Is the
minister aware that the James Street Safe Night Space matter has now been with
state government for over 100 days?
(2) Does the minister consider this
delay acceptable?
(3) When will a decision be made?
(4) How can the
government justify this delay when City of Perth council voted unanimously to
allow the reopening of the service on James Street back in February?
(5) Is the state
government continuing to make funding available to Ruah to operate this
service, even though the service is not operating?
AnswerView source ↗
The question has been referred to
Minister for Planning. I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question. On behalf of the Minister for Planning, I advise the following.
(1)–(5) The
City of Perth shut down the Safe Night Space service in late 2023. When it
became apparent that the city was going to cease funding the Safe Night Space
service, the state government offered $3.1 million to continue the service at
the Rod Evans Community Centre without disruption. The City of Perth rejected this assistance and closed the service. The state
government has provided $210 000 in interim funding to ensure Ruah could
continue to offer the women impacted by the city's service closure
access to accommodation and other necessities. The Safe Night Space service
could have been open within days of lodging a planning application; however,
the city forced Ruah to go through an entirely unnecessary planning process.
As a ''preferred'' use
under the city's local planning scheme, neither public advertising nor
full council determination was required. In fact, there is a strong argument
that the proposal did not require planning approval at all. The city's
Lord Mayor confirmed an expedited approval pathway was available in this
instance, but refused to implement it. The city's council then, without
consultation with Ruah and against its own planning administration's
recommendation, chose to impose additional conditions on the approval that
restricted the operations of the Safe Night Space service. The applicant has
stated that it felt there was no choice but
to seek an appeal through the State Administrative Tribunal. The SAT
application was called in for determination by the Minister for
Planning, and in accordance with the Planning and Development Act 2005, both
the applicant and the city are a party to this process and have been given the
opportunity to present submissions for consideration by the minister
considering the proposal. The final ministerial decision, and all submissions
received, will be published and laid before Parliament as soon as practicable.
Several members interjected.
The PRESIDENT : Order!
Minister for Planning. I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question. On behalf of the Minister for Planning, I advise the following.
(1)–(5) The
City of Perth shut down the Safe Night Space service in late 2023. When it
became apparent that the city was going to cease funding the Safe Night Space
service, the state government offered $3.1 million to continue the service at
the Rod Evans Community Centre without disruption. The City of Perth rejected this assistance and closed the service. The state
government has provided $210 000 in interim funding to ensure Ruah could
continue to offer the women impacted by the city's service closure
access to accommodation and other necessities. The Safe Night Space service
could have been open within days of lodging a planning application; however,
the city forced Ruah to go through an entirely unnecessary planning process.
As a ''preferred'' use
under the city's local planning scheme, neither public advertising nor
full council determination was required. In fact, there is a strong argument
that the proposal did not require planning approval at all. The city's
Lord Mayor confirmed an expedited approval pathway was available in this
instance, but refused to implement it. The city's council then, without
consultation with Ruah and against its own planning administration's
recommendation, chose to impose additional conditions on the approval that
restricted the operations of the Safe Night Space service. The applicant has
stated that it felt there was no choice but
to seek an appeal through the State Administrative Tribunal. The SAT
application was called in for determination by the Minister for
Planning, and in accordance with the Planning and Development Act 2005, both
the applicant and the city are a party to this process and have been given the
opportunity to present submissions for consideration by the minister
considering the proposal. The final ministerial decision, and all submissions
received, will be published and laid before Parliament as soon as practicable.
Several members interjected.
The PRESIDENT : Order!
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