❓ The Minister for Housing updates the house on the Liberal-National government's disruptive behaviour management strategy for public housing tenants, outlining the tiered approach to sanctions and support programs available.
AnsweredQoN 163Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PUBLIC
HOUSING — TENANT BEHAVIOUR
163. MR N.W. MORTON to the Minister for Housing:
Can the minister please update the house on the Liberal–National
government's disruptive behaviour management strategy?
HOUSING — TENANT BEHAVIOUR
163. MR N.W. MORTON to the Minister for Housing:
Can the minister please update the house on the Liberal–National
government's disruptive behaviour management strategy?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Forrestfield for a very important
question.
As members know, I frequently get letters from them raising
concerns about disruptive behaviour in their electorates. It is a very
important issue. In 2011 the government strengthened and streamlined the
disruptive behaviour management strategy. Under the improved policy, sanctions
against tenants are now applied based on the severity and frequency of proven
disturbances. These include dangerous behaviour, such as assault, arson and the
manufacture of drugs, for which strikes are not issued but immediate action is
taken to terminate the tenancy. For serious behaviour, such as aggressive or
threatening acts or vandalism of a neighbour's property, the tenant
will get a first and final warning for the first incident —
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Midland!
Mr W.R. MARMION : —
and a subsequent incident of a similar nature within 12 months will result in
legal proceedings.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Midland!
Mr W.R. MARMION :
The third category is minor disturbance or behaviour. This includes acts of
nuisance, such as noise or a property condition that upsets the neighbours.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected.
Mr W.R. MARMION :
These issues have to be proven.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Right, please, minister. Member for Midland, I call you to order for the second
time! Right. Now, continue please.
Mr W.R. MARMION :
In the minor behaviour category, legal action will be taken for a tenant with
three proven strikes in a 12-month period. It is important that members know
that the disturbances have to be proven. We also improved the management by
establishing a disruptive behaviour reporting hotline and a disruptive
behaviour management unit. The figures to date, from May 2011 to the end of
April 2013, indicate that 223 tenants are no longer in occupation due to
maximum strike or dangerous behaviour occurrences and 26 212 complaints had
been received and actioned. In April 2013 alone, 31 tenancies were referred to
the unit, 140 strikes were issued, 1 372 complaints were received and 1 430
complaints were closed out. The disruptive behaviour management strategy is not
simply about booting people out of houses. Where tenancy issues arise, tenants
are given the opportunity to go through our supported assistance housing
program to assist them in meeting their obligations.
There is also a StrongFamilies
program, which is a Department for Child Protection and Family Support program
that helps dysfunctional families. Importantly, when an eviction is imminent,
the department engages with the Department for Child Protection and Family
Support to arrange crisis accommodation for affected families.
Tabling of Paper
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Can I ask the
minister to table the document he is reading from?
Mr W.R. MARMION : Certainly, Mr
Speaker.
Questions without Notice Resumed
The
SPEAKER : Right. Has the minister finished?
Mr
W.R. MARMION : I will just conclude, Mr Speaker. The government recognises
that disruptive behaviour impacts on members and we on this side of the chamber
take it seriously. If tenants do not comply with our strategy, penalties will
occur and I will take action against them.
The
SPEAKER : Is the minister tabling two documents?
Mr
W.R. MARMION : I can, Mr Speaker. They are my own notes.
[See paper 340.]
question.
As members know, I frequently get letters from them raising
concerns about disruptive behaviour in their electorates. It is a very
important issue. In 2011 the government strengthened and streamlined the
disruptive behaviour management strategy. Under the improved policy, sanctions
against tenants are now applied based on the severity and frequency of proven
disturbances. These include dangerous behaviour, such as assault, arson and the
manufacture of drugs, for which strikes are not issued but immediate action is
taken to terminate the tenancy. For serious behaviour, such as aggressive or
threatening acts or vandalism of a neighbour's property, the tenant
will get a first and final warning for the first incident —
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Midland!
Mr W.R. MARMION : —
and a subsequent incident of a similar nature within 12 months will result in
legal proceedings.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Midland!
Mr W.R. MARMION :
The third category is minor disturbance or behaviour. This includes acts of
nuisance, such as noise or a property condition that upsets the neighbours.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected.
Mr W.R. MARMION :
These issues have to be proven.
Mrs M.H. Roberts interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Right, please, minister. Member for Midland, I call you to order for the second
time! Right. Now, continue please.
Mr W.R. MARMION :
In the minor behaviour category, legal action will be taken for a tenant with
three proven strikes in a 12-month period. It is important that members know
that the disturbances have to be proven. We also improved the management by
establishing a disruptive behaviour reporting hotline and a disruptive
behaviour management unit. The figures to date, from May 2011 to the end of
April 2013, indicate that 223 tenants are no longer in occupation due to
maximum strike or dangerous behaviour occurrences and 26 212 complaints had
been received and actioned. In April 2013 alone, 31 tenancies were referred to
the unit, 140 strikes were issued, 1 372 complaints were received and 1 430
complaints were closed out. The disruptive behaviour management strategy is not
simply about booting people out of houses. Where tenancy issues arise, tenants
are given the opportunity to go through our supported assistance housing
program to assist them in meeting their obligations.
There is also a StrongFamilies
program, which is a Department for Child Protection and Family Support program
that helps dysfunctional families. Importantly, when an eviction is imminent,
the department engages with the Department for Child Protection and Family
Support to arrange crisis accommodation for affected families.
Tabling of Paper
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Can I ask the
minister to table the document he is reading from?
Mr W.R. MARMION : Certainly, Mr
Speaker.
Questions without Notice Resumed
The
SPEAKER : Right. Has the minister finished?
Mr
W.R. MARMION : I will just conclude, Mr Speaker. The government recognises
that disruptive behaviour impacts on members and we on this side of the chamber
take it seriously. If tenants do not comply with our strategy, penalties will
occur and I will take action against them.
The
SPEAKER : Is the minister tabling two documents?
Mr
W.R. MARMION : I can, Mr Speaker. They are my own notes.
[See paper 340.]
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