❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding the application of the three-strikes policy in public housing and the number of disruptive behaviour complaints received. The Minister's response defends the government's housing policies and confirms the policy remains in effect.
AnsweredQoN 1296Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
PUBLIC HOUSING — COMMUNITY SAFETY
1296. Hon STEVE MARTIN to the minister representing the
Minister for Housing:
I note the minister's
comments in the Legislative Assembly regarding the Liberal Party's
commitment to enforce a fair three-strikes policy to protect the community from
antisocial and criminal behaviour in public housing.
(1) How many
disruptive behaviour complaints have been received by the Department of
Communities this calendar year?
(2) Is the
three-strikes policy still in effect?
(3) Has the
minister asked his parliamentary secretary whether it is true that he told a community
meeting in Maddington on 12 August 2024 that ''We apply our
three-strikes policy''?
(4) If no to (3),
why not?
(5) Is it the
minister or the parliamentary secretary that is misleading the community about
the government's policy?
1296. Hon STEVE MARTIN to the minister representing the
Minister for Housing:
I note the minister's
comments in the Legislative Assembly regarding the Liberal Party's
commitment to enforce a fair three-strikes policy to protect the community from
antisocial and criminal behaviour in public housing.
(1) How many
disruptive behaviour complaints have been received by the Department of
Communities this calendar year?
(2) Is the
three-strikes policy still in effect?
(3) Has the
minister asked his parliamentary secretary whether it is true that he told a community
meeting in Maddington on 12 August 2024 that ''We apply our
three-strikes policy''?
(4) If no to (3),
why not?
(5) Is it the
minister or the parliamentary secretary that is misleading the community about
the government's policy?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The following response has been provided by the
Minister for Housing.
(1) Public
housing does not represent a community safety concern and the vast majority of
public housing tenants will occupy their homes for years 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 2 500 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.
A greater number of tenancies will
naturally result in a rise in disruptive behaviour complaints. For the 2024–25
financial year to date, as at 30 September 2024, 4 330 complaints had been
received. This figure represents all complaints received by the department,
however not all complaints constituted disruptive behaviour—for
example, children playing around the property. Multiple complaints may be
received for a single incident and by the same complainant, and some complaints
may be brought against properties not held by the department or may be
spurious.
(2)–(3) As
the minister and parliamentary secretary have confirmed, the three-strikes
policy, which was implemented by the Barnett Liberal–National
government in 2009, remains in effect.
(4)–(5) Not applicable.
some notice of the question. The following response has been provided by the
Minister for Housing.
(1) Public
housing does not represent a community safety concern and the vast majority of
public housing tenants will occupy their homes for years 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 2 500 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.
A greater number of tenancies will
naturally result in a rise in disruptive behaviour complaints. For the 2024–25
financial year to date, as at 30 September 2024, 4 330 complaints had been
received. This figure represents all complaints received by the department,
however not all complaints constituted disruptive behaviour—for
example, children playing around the property. Multiple complaints may be
received for a single incident and by the same complainant, and some complaints
may be brought against properties not held by the department or may be
spurious.
(2)–(3) As
the minister and parliamentary secretary have confirmed, the three-strikes
policy, which was implemented by the Barnett Liberal–National
government in 2009, remains in effect.
(4)–(5) Not applicable.
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