❓ Question regarding the Minister's concern about growing homelessness in WA and immediate actions being taken. The Minister responds by questioning the questioner's advocacy efforts and outlining government initiatives.
AnsweredQoN 551Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HOMELESSNESS
551. Mr A. KRSTICEVIC to the Minister for Community
Services:
I refer to the Premier's
mean-spirited refusal to meet with the homeless in his electorate and complete
lack of empathy for those people struggling in the community.
(1) Is the minister concerned about
the growing issue of homelessness in Western Australia?
(2) What immediate action is she
taking to help these people?
551. Mr A. KRSTICEVIC to the Minister for Community
Services:
I refer to the Premier's
mean-spirited refusal to meet with the homeless in his electorate and complete
lack of empathy for those people struggling in the community.
(1) Is the minister concerned about
the growing issue of homelessness in Western Australia?
(2) What immediate action is she
taking to help these people?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
would like to make a couple of points about the issues and the approach that
has been taken by the member for Carine on this issue. One is that as the
minister responsible for the services that apply to people experiencing
homelessness or at risk of homelessness, I have received no correspondence or
inquiries to my office from him. I understand the Minister for Housing is in
the same position. We have had no advocacy from him or his side to advocate for
those people.
Several members interjected.
Ms
S.F. McGURK : Secondly, I ask the
member whether he has advocated on behalf of people who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness in his own community? I do not think I have
had any contact with him on behalf of his electorate about his own community.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Ms S.F. McGURK : There has
been no advocacy from him. The reality is that no community in this state is
not affected by the issue of homelessness. There is no electorate and no part
of the state on which this issue is not impacting. A lot of work is already
being done around the state. This government puts in about $89 million a year
for services for homeless people. A lot of good effort is made, and a lot of
that effort ends well with very vulnerable people getting good accommodation
and services to support them in that accommodation. Unfortunately, there is
still demand. There are still people who are at risk, are either street-present
or at risk of being in a very precarious homeless situation.
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine!
Ms S.F. McGURK : If the member
for Carine would be quiet, I will answer his question.
There is still a lot of work to do.
That is why we are joining together with the not-for-profit sector to do a 10-year
strategy for homelessness. A lot of good work has been done to draw on good
practice around the state so that we get vulnerable people into the right sort
of accommodation and give them the supports they need for as long as they need
so they can be stable.
In regard to the people in
Rockingham, the Department of Communities is working with a range of
stakeholders down there, including the local government, to visit those people
to try to get them into good support. The overwhelming response for most people
at present is that they do not want to move into other accommodation.
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine!
Ms S.F. McGURK : One of my
other concerns about what is happening in that particular area in Rockingham is
that some advocates are moving new people into that camp. That is saying it is
a good thing that people can be moved into that camp. I think that should be
discouraged. We are working very hard with those people who are camping in that
area to make sure they can trust the services and supports that are available
to them so that they can eventually find the right accommodation and the
supports that they need.
I do not know how much exposure the
member for Carine has had to this issue, except for his recent cheap political
grandstanding —
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine!
Ms S.F. McGURK : He decided to
head down to the Premier's electorate —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Ms S.F. McGURK : He decided to
head down to the Premier's electorate to exploit those people's
situation.
Ms J.M. Freeman interjected.
Ms S.F. McGURK : That is
right.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Mirrabooka, I call you to order for the first time.
Ms S.F. McGURK : I recognise
that there are people on the other side of this chamber who care about people
who are homeless and street present and are having difficulties. I do not put
the member for Carine in that category. Frankly, I do not put the member for
Cottesloe in that category either. He said, very shamefully, during debate the other
day that he is scared to go to Fremantle because there is so much homelessness
there. Toughen up, member for Cottesloe! I will take the member down there. It
is not that bad. I live in the middle of it. It is okay; I will walk with him.
It will be all right!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Dr D.J. Honey interjected.
Ms S.F. McGURK : You precious
petal!
The SPEAKER : Member for
Cottesloe, I call you to order for the first time.
Ms S.F. McGURK : Members, I ask
that this issue not be politicised and that we do work constructively with
those people—about 9 000 people across our state—who are
homeless to get them the right support and the right sort of accommodation so
they can lead stable, healthy, safe lives.
would like to make a couple of points about the issues and the approach that
has been taken by the member for Carine on this issue. One is that as the
minister responsible for the services that apply to people experiencing
homelessness or at risk of homelessness, I have received no correspondence or
inquiries to my office from him. I understand the Minister for Housing is in
the same position. We have had no advocacy from him or his side to advocate for
those people.
Several members interjected.
Ms
S.F. McGURK : Secondly, I ask the
member whether he has advocated on behalf of people who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness in his own community? I do not think I have
had any contact with him on behalf of his electorate about his own community.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Ms S.F. McGURK : There has
been no advocacy from him. The reality is that no community in this state is
not affected by the issue of homelessness. There is no electorate and no part
of the state on which this issue is not impacting. A lot of work is already
being done around the state. This government puts in about $89 million a year
for services for homeless people. A lot of good effort is made, and a lot of
that effort ends well with very vulnerable people getting good accommodation
and services to support them in that accommodation. Unfortunately, there is
still demand. There are still people who are at risk, are either street-present
or at risk of being in a very precarious homeless situation.
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine!
Ms S.F. McGURK : If the member
for Carine would be quiet, I will answer his question.
There is still a lot of work to do.
That is why we are joining together with the not-for-profit sector to do a 10-year
strategy for homelessness. A lot of good work has been done to draw on good
practice around the state so that we get vulnerable people into the right sort
of accommodation and give them the supports they need for as long as they need
so they can be stable.
In regard to the people in
Rockingham, the Department of Communities is working with a range of
stakeholders down there, including the local government, to visit those people
to try to get them into good support. The overwhelming response for most people
at present is that they do not want to move into other accommodation.
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine!
Ms S.F. McGURK : One of my
other concerns about what is happening in that particular area in Rockingham is
that some advocates are moving new people into that camp. That is saying it is
a good thing that people can be moved into that camp. I think that should be
discouraged. We are working very hard with those people who are camping in that
area to make sure they can trust the services and supports that are available
to them so that they can eventually find the right accommodation and the
supports that they need.
I do not know how much exposure the
member for Carine has had to this issue, except for his recent cheap political
grandstanding —
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine!
Ms S.F. McGURK : He decided to
head down to the Premier's electorate —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Ms S.F. McGURK : He decided to
head down to the Premier's electorate to exploit those people's
situation.
Ms J.M. Freeman interjected.
Ms S.F. McGURK : That is
right.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Mirrabooka, I call you to order for the first time.
Ms S.F. McGURK : I recognise
that there are people on the other side of this chamber who care about people
who are homeless and street present and are having difficulties. I do not put
the member for Carine in that category. Frankly, I do not put the member for
Cottesloe in that category either. He said, very shamefully, during debate the other
day that he is scared to go to Fremantle because there is so much homelessness
there. Toughen up, member for Cottesloe! I will take the member down there. It
is not that bad. I live in the middle of it. It is okay; I will walk with him.
It will be all right!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Dr D.J. Honey interjected.
Ms S.F. McGURK : You precious
petal!
The SPEAKER : Member for
Cottesloe, I call you to order for the first time.
Ms S.F. McGURK : Members, I ask
that this issue not be politicised and that we do work constructively with
those people—about 9 000 people across our state—who are
homeless to get them the right support and the right sort of accommodation so
they can lead stable, healthy, safe lives.
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