❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses concerns about the placement of dysfunctional families from metropolitan areas into public housing in country towns. The Minister denies any policy change and highlights challenges in obtaining information from police regarding related incidents.
AnsweredQoN 445Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
It has been suggested that metropolitan dysfunctional families are being located in Homeswest accommodation in country towns. Has there been a change of policy to increase the number of metropolitan dysfunctional and disruptive families locating to Homeswest properties in the country? Hon TOM STEPHENS
AnswerView source ↗
There has been no change in practice or policy with regard to responding to applications for housing. People have applied for and been allocated public housing in some country towns and in a couple of instances difficulties have been drawn to the attention of the local police. Police officers in those towns have been asked to give the Department of Housing and Works the details rather than reporting first to the media. These dysfunctional families are a source of concern to the department. Unfortunately, the police officers concerned were unable to make that information available to the department when it was requested, although they were able to provide it to the Press and the Leader of the National Party. The department has pursued bureaucratic processes to see whether someone more senior in the Police Service might like to provide the information. There has been no change in the policy or practice for housing people from metropolitan areas - whether functional or dysfunctional. It is easier to house people in non-metropolitan areas of the State because of the long waiting list for housing in metropolitan areas that has built up over years of neglect under the previous Administration.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: There has been no change in practice or policy with regard to responding to applications for housing. People have applied for and been allocated public housing in some country towns and in a couple of instances difficulties have been drawn to the attention of the local police. Police officers in those towns have been asked to give the Department of Housing and Works the details rather than reporting first to the media. These dysfunctional families are a source of concern to the department. Unfortunately, the police officers concerned were unable to make that information available to the department when it was requested, although they were able to provide it to the Press and the Leader of the National Party. The department has pursued bureaucratic processes to see whether someone more senior in the Police Service might like to provide the information. There has been no change in the policy or practice for housing people from metropolitan areas - whether functional or dysfunctional. It is easier to house people in non-metropolitan areas of the State because of the long waiting list for housing in metropolitan areas that has built up over years of neglect under the previous Administration.
There has been no change in practice or policy with regard to responding to applications for housing. People have applied for and been allocated public housing in some country towns and in a couple of instances difficulties have been drawn to the attention of the local police. Police officers in those towns have been asked to give the Department of Housing and Works the details rather than reporting first to the media. These dysfunctional families are a source of concern to the department. Unfortunately, the police officers concerned were unable to make that information available to the department when it was requested, although they were able to provide it to the Press and the Leader of the National Party. The department has pursued bureaucratic processes to see whether someone more senior in the Police Service might like to provide the information. There has been no change in the policy or practice for housing people from metropolitan areas - whether functional or dysfunctional. It is easier to house people in non-metropolitan areas of the State because of the long waiting list for housing in metropolitan areas that has built up over years of neglect under the previous Administration.
There has been no change in the policy or practice for housing people from metropolitan areas - whether functional or dysfunctional. It is easier to house people in non-metropolitan areas of the State because of the long waiting list for housing in metropolitan areas that has built up over years of neglect under the previous Administration.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: There has been no change in practice or policy with regard to responding to applications for housing. People have applied for and been allocated public housing in some country towns and in a couple of instances difficulties have been drawn to the attention of the local police. Police officers in those towns have been asked to give the Department of Housing and Works the details rather than reporting first to the media. These dysfunctional families are a source of concern to the department. Unfortunately, the police officers concerned were unable to make that information available to the department when it was requested, although they were able to provide it to the Press and the Leader of the National Party. The department has pursued bureaucratic processes to see whether someone more senior in the Police Service might like to provide the information. There has been no change in the policy or practice for housing people from metropolitan areas - whether functional or dysfunctional. It is easier to house people in non-metropolitan areas of the State because of the long waiting list for housing in metropolitan areas that has built up over years of neglect under the previous Administration.
There has been no change in practice or policy with regard to responding to applications for housing. People have applied for and been allocated public housing in some country towns and in a couple of instances difficulties have been drawn to the attention of the local police. Police officers in those towns have been asked to give the Department of Housing and Works the details rather than reporting first to the media. These dysfunctional families are a source of concern to the department. Unfortunately, the police officers concerned were unable to make that information available to the department when it was requested, although they were able to provide it to the Press and the Leader of the National Party. The department has pursued bureaucratic processes to see whether someone more senior in the Police Service might like to provide the information. There has been no change in the policy or practice for housing people from metropolitan areas - whether functional or dysfunctional. It is easier to house people in non-metropolitan areas of the State because of the long waiting list for housing in metropolitan areas that has built up over years of neglect under the previous Administration.
There has been no change in the policy or practice for housing people from metropolitan areas - whether functional or dysfunctional. It is easier to house people in non-metropolitan areas of the State because of the long waiting list for housing in metropolitan areas that has built up over years of neglect under the previous Administration.
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