❓ Mr. Miles questions the Minister for Housing on feedback regarding the Liberal-National government's disruptive-behaviour policy in public housing. The Minister defends the policy, citing constituent complaints about antisocial behaviour and highlighting the responsibility of tenants.
AnsweredQoN 23Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PUBLIC
HOUSING — TENANT BEHAVIOUR
23. Mr P.T. MILES to the
Minister for Housing:
Can the minister please update the house on the
implementation of the feedback received to date about the Liberal–National
government's disruptive-behaviour policy on public housing?
HOUSING — TENANT BEHAVIOUR
23. Mr P.T. MILES to the
Minister for Housing:
Can the minister please update the house on the
implementation of the feedback received to date about the Liberal–National
government's disruptive-behaviour policy on public housing?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Wanneroo for the very topical question
within this current media context, and I will try to be as succinct as
possible. As members will be aware, probably the most complaints we get in our electorates
are constituents complaining about antisocial behaviour. As members know, the
Department of Housing takes this very seriously. Having a Department of Housing
house is, basically, a privilege and it is not given unconditionally; there are
conditions based on being a tenant. I was very disappointed to read a speech
made in the Senate by Senator Sue Lines regarding our destructive-behaviour
strategy. She said —
In the area of public housing our
record is shameful. Western Australia has a three-strikes policy in public
housing, which means that if there are complaints about you or other members of
your household, no matter who is staying there, you get just three warnings—three
strikes: Strike 1, strike 2, strike 3—and then you are evicted.
She suggests that the three-strikes policy has forced 2 000
Aboriginal children out of their homes. That is very misleading. The Department
of Housing is the state's biggest landlord. We have more than 36 000
houses. The waiting list has reduced from 24 000 to 20 000, so we have been
very successful in bringing down the waiting list. There are 20 000 applicants
looking forward to getting a house and if people in houses are being
destructive, not getting on with the neighbours, not looking after the house
and not paying their rent, we have to implement the three-strikes policy, and
that means they are evicted. People have control; it is their responsibility.
They must take some responsibility for their actions. The state government
cannot continue to provide houses without there being some consequences for
people who are disruptive. The vast majority of tenants—more than 99
per cent—get on with their neighbours; they pay the rent and look after
their house. Unfortunately, they also suffer due to the behaviour of one per
cent.
Since the strategy began, 15 of the 21 members opposite have
written to me. It was disappointing to hear the member for Willagee on the
radio this morning. I will quote from one of the letters I have received.
Mr M. McGowan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Mirrabooka, I call you to order for the first time. I do not want
any more disruptions while the member is on his feet.
Ms
J.M. Freeman interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Mirrabooka,
I call you to order for the second time.
Mr
W.R. MARMION : The point is —
Ms J.M. Freeman interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Mirrabooka, I call you to
order for the third time.
Mr W.R. MARMION :
The point I am trying to make is that this is an issue —
Mr D.J. Kelly interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Bassendean, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr W.R. MARMION :
The point I am making is that this is an issue that affects all of us and,
indeed, I am just saying that 15 out of 21 members opposite have written to me.
Without revealing the person, I will read half a sentence from a letter about a
suburb in the member for Willagee's area that says, ''The
constituents in this street have been putting up with hell from the tenants of
this property for a number of years.'' I will not read out any more, but
I have two files of letters from members opposite. Ultimately, the question
needs to be asked: do I enjoy people being evicted? No, I do not. I prefer to
have no evictions, but, unfortunately, people do not look after their houses.
Do I think the three-strikes policy is fair? Yes, I do. This government takes
seriously the management by the department of our 36 000 houses and we expect
people to look after them.
within this current media context, and I will try to be as succinct as
possible. As members will be aware, probably the most complaints we get in our electorates
are constituents complaining about antisocial behaviour. As members know, the
Department of Housing takes this very seriously. Having a Department of Housing
house is, basically, a privilege and it is not given unconditionally; there are
conditions based on being a tenant. I was very disappointed to read a speech
made in the Senate by Senator Sue Lines regarding our destructive-behaviour
strategy. She said —
In the area of public housing our
record is shameful. Western Australia has a three-strikes policy in public
housing, which means that if there are complaints about you or other members of
your household, no matter who is staying there, you get just three warnings—three
strikes: Strike 1, strike 2, strike 3—and then you are evicted.
She suggests that the three-strikes policy has forced 2 000
Aboriginal children out of their homes. That is very misleading. The Department
of Housing is the state's biggest landlord. We have more than 36 000
houses. The waiting list has reduced from 24 000 to 20 000, so we have been
very successful in bringing down the waiting list. There are 20 000 applicants
looking forward to getting a house and if people in houses are being
destructive, not getting on with the neighbours, not looking after the house
and not paying their rent, we have to implement the three-strikes policy, and
that means they are evicted. People have control; it is their responsibility.
They must take some responsibility for their actions. The state government
cannot continue to provide houses without there being some consequences for
people who are disruptive. The vast majority of tenants—more than 99
per cent—get on with their neighbours; they pay the rent and look after
their house. Unfortunately, they also suffer due to the behaviour of one per
cent.
Since the strategy began, 15 of the 21 members opposite have
written to me. It was disappointing to hear the member for Willagee on the
radio this morning. I will quote from one of the letters I have received.
Mr M. McGowan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Mirrabooka, I call you to order for the first time. I do not want
any more disruptions while the member is on his feet.
Ms
J.M. Freeman interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Mirrabooka,
I call you to order for the second time.
Mr
W.R. MARMION : The point is —
Ms J.M. Freeman interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Mirrabooka, I call you to
order for the third time.
Mr W.R. MARMION :
The point I am trying to make is that this is an issue —
Mr D.J. Kelly interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Bassendean, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr W.R. MARMION :
The point I am making is that this is an issue that affects all of us and,
indeed, I am just saying that 15 out of 21 members opposite have written to me.
Without revealing the person, I will read half a sentence from a letter about a
suburb in the member for Willagee's area that says, ''The
constituents in this street have been putting up with hell from the tenants of
this property for a number of years.'' I will not read out any more, but
I have two files of letters from members opposite. Ultimately, the question
needs to be asked: do I enjoy people being evicted? No, I do not. I prefer to
have no evictions, but, unfortunately, people do not look after their houses.
Do I think the three-strikes policy is fair? Yes, I do. This government takes
seriously the management by the department of our 36 000 houses and we expect
people to look after them.
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