❓ Dr. Thomas questions the Department of Communities' handling of disruptive behaviour complaints at a Bunbury housing complex, alleging bias and disregard for evidence in a specific case. The Minister declined to answer publicly, citing privacy and Standing Orders.
AnsweredQoN 2204Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to issues of disruptive behaviour management at 63 Goldsmith Street, Bunbury with Department of Communities (Housing) fine number 2019/H56836 and reference number 817570, and I ask: (a) did the Department of Communities (the Department) write to the resident of Unit 3 in a letter with form ID CUST0105, dated 17 November 2022, advising him that the Department is "unable to investigate complaints that.....involve personal disputes or disagreement between neighbours" when he submitted a complaint; (b) does the Minister stand by that statement, referenced in (a), that the Department cannot investigate such complaints; (c) did the Department subsequently investigate a complaint in February 2024 from the person against whom the 2022 complaint was made, with this complaint made against the original complainant; (d) if the statement in part (a) is to be believed, why did the Department refuse to investigate the first complaint but go ahead and investigate the second one; (e) why did the Department show deliberate bias between the two conflicting complainants; (f) can you confirm that the original complainant defended the 29 February 2024 accusation in a meeting called by the Department on 5 March 2024; (g) can you confirm that at the meeting the Department called in part (f), that Departmental staff were shown security camera vision of the incident of 29 February 2024, and that as a result the resident of Unit 3 was advised verbally that he had no case to answer; (h) did a Departmental officer subsequently ignore that advice referenced in (g), and the available evidence, and issue a letter of complaint outcome, dated 11 March 2024, upholding the complaint (file no. 2019/H56836 and reference number 817570); (i) did the same Departmental officer also ignore an independent witness statement given to them dated 14 of March 2024; (j) has that Departmental officer ever sought to view the available security footage of the events of 29 February 2024; (k) on what evidence, apart from the written accusation of the complainant, was the outcome of upholding the complaint of 29 February 2024 made; (l) what opportunities were given to the person about whom the complaint was made to respond and argue their case; (m) what is the limit of persons allowed to be housed in Unit 14 of the complex and how many have been resident during 2024; and (n) what rules apply to the visitor car park section of the complex and how have those rules been enforced?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
26 November 2024
Responded by
Minister for Agriculture and Food representing the Minister for Housing
Response time
12 days
(a – n)
Given privacy concerns for the individuals involved and the length of the question in relation to Standing Order 105(1)(a), the Minister will offer the Member a briefing directly.
Given privacy concerns for the individuals involved and the length of the question in relation to Standing Order 105(1)(a), the Minister will offer the Member a briefing directly.
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