❓ Analysis of a parliamentary question regarding the withdrawal of public housing applications due to adverse history, including data on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants. The Minister denies misleading parliament.
AnsweredQoN 1511Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the 2023-24 Estimates answer to Question Prior 35, where the answer states that the Housing Authority “withdraws” housing applications for adverse history, including reasons such as "a history of disruptive behavior; significant adverse tenancy history; where there are significant community safety concerns; significant unpaid debts and no payment plan in place",I ask: (a) for each year from 2017-18 to present, how many applicants were “withdrawn” by the Housing Authority for adverse history; (b) how many of those applications voluntarily identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island applicants; and (c) is the Minister misleading Parliament by not providing the number of applications for public housing assistance that have been denied or withdrawn on the basis of adverse history, data which the Housing Authority does collect?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
12 September 2023
Responded by
Minister for Agriculture and Food representing the Minister for Housing
Response time
7 days
(a)
The Department of Communities (Communities) supports applicants with referrals and services appropriate to their circumstances.
All public housing applications flagged as having an adverse housing, including exhibiting serious or dangerous behaviours, poor property standards, and dangerous or illegal activity at the property, undergo an additional assistance review assessment. An applicant may be required to meet additional set criteria such as entering into a payment arrangement for their unpaid debt or being referred to appropriate support services due to their previous tenancy history.
An application may be ‘withdrawn’ pending further review or where the applicant does not meet their listed conditions. Additionally, this decision remains appealable under the Department of Communities Housing Appeals Policy. Some applicants may also decide to withdraw their own application voluntarily.
The below table denotes applications withdrawn by the Department under “adverse history”. Applications identified as ‘withdrawn’ may have been escalated to a senior officer for an additional assistance review assessment. As such, the data included below may include both applications that were under review at the time, and additionally, applications that may have been reinstated to the waitlist subsequently following review.
The data also illustrates the significant downward trend in applications withdrawn throughout the term of the McGowan and Cook State Governments.
Public Housing Applications Withdrawn due to 'Adverse History’ as at 31 July 2023
Financial Year
Number of Applications Withdrawn due to Adverse History
2017-18
179
2018-19
206
2019-20
144
2020-21
88
2021-22
43
2022-23
30
2023-24 FYTD
1
*NB: The table captures applications withdrawn due to selected reasons within the category of adverse history, including ‘Further Assistance Review Required', and 'Under Managers Assessment'.
(b)
As the Member has previously been advised, it is not a mandatory requirement for clients seeking housing assistance to disclose their ATSI status to the Department. The table below only refers to the number of applications withdrawn where an applicant has self-identified as ATSI.
Given the voluntary nature of reporting, the below data cannot be provided with a high level of confidence.
Public Housing Applications Withdrawn due to 'Adverse History' as at 31 July 2023
Financial Year
Main Applicant Identified as ATSI
2017-18
55
2018-19
66
2019-20
37
2020-21
29
2021-22
14
2022-23
10
2023-24 FYTD
-
*NB: 'ATSI' refers to applications where the Main Applicant has identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander based on latest data available.
(c)
No.
The Department of Communities (Communities) supports applicants with referrals and services appropriate to their circumstances.
All public housing applications flagged as having an adverse housing, including exhibiting serious or dangerous behaviours, poor property standards, and dangerous or illegal activity at the property, undergo an additional assistance review assessment. An applicant may be required to meet additional set criteria such as entering into a payment arrangement for their unpaid debt or being referred to appropriate support services due to their previous tenancy history.
An application may be ‘withdrawn’ pending further review or where the applicant does not meet their listed conditions. Additionally, this decision remains appealable under the Department of Communities Housing Appeals Policy. Some applicants may also decide to withdraw their own application voluntarily.
The below table denotes applications withdrawn by the Department under “adverse history”. Applications identified as ‘withdrawn’ may have been escalated to a senior officer for an additional assistance review assessment. As such, the data included below may include both applications that were under review at the time, and additionally, applications that may have been reinstated to the waitlist subsequently following review.
The data also illustrates the significant downward trend in applications withdrawn throughout the term of the McGowan and Cook State Governments.
Public Housing Applications Withdrawn due to 'Adverse History’ as at 31 July 2023
Financial Year
Number of Applications Withdrawn due to Adverse History
2017-18
179
2018-19
206
2019-20
144
2020-21
88
2021-22
43
2022-23
30
2023-24 FYTD
1
*NB: The table captures applications withdrawn due to selected reasons within the category of adverse history, including ‘Further Assistance Review Required', and 'Under Managers Assessment'.
(b)
As the Member has previously been advised, it is not a mandatory requirement for clients seeking housing assistance to disclose their ATSI status to the Department. The table below only refers to the number of applications withdrawn where an applicant has self-identified as ATSI.
Given the voluntary nature of reporting, the below data cannot be provided with a high level of confidence.
Public Housing Applications Withdrawn due to 'Adverse History' as at 31 July 2023
Financial Year
Main Applicant Identified as ATSI
2017-18
55
2018-19
66
2019-20
37
2020-21
29
2021-22
14
2022-23
10
2023-24 FYTD
-
*NB: 'ATSI' refers to applications where the Main Applicant has identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander based on latest data available.
(c)
No.
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