Housing SA Multitrade Contracts

Ms DIGANCE (Elder) (14:34): My question is to the Minister for Social Housing. Minister, what is the government doing to ensure the continuation of maintenance services of Housing SA properties?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON (Ramsay—Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (14:34): I thank the member for Elder for her question. Back in October 2013, the South Australian Housing Trust awarded 14 contracts to five multitrade contractors for the delivery of maintenance services to Housing SA properties across South Australia. The initial contracts were for a three-year term, with a possibility of extension, and an approximate annual value of $112 million. On 9 May 2016, the government approved the extension of the contract for a further three years, through to 30 September 2019.

During this financial year to 31 May 2016, over 175,000 work orders have been raised to the multitrade contractors for responsive maintenance repairs, vacancy works to bring properties up to standard for reallocation, programmed works to maintain condition, amenity and serviceability, and upgrade works to improve the overall condition and quality of Housing Trust properties. The performance of the multitrade contracts has been satisfactory, with steady improvement in timeliness and quality. The results of customer satisfaction surveys conducted across all contract areas have been consistently strong.

In addition, the extension of the contracts and the continued delivery of maintenance work ensures ongoing employment and job security for both the people directly employed by the contractors and the subcontracting companies engaged to deliver the maintenance services. The multitrade contractors report regularly on the engagement of Indigenous employees, trainees, apprentices, people with disability and vulnerable people.

For example, Doherty Trade Services (DHT) is a 100 per cent family owned South Australian company. They currently employ 90 South Australians, including Indigenous employees, apprentices and employees with hearing impairments. Programmed Facility Management (PFM) is an Australian company which currently employs 33 South Australians for the Housing Trust contract, including Indigenous employees and employees with barriers. They aim to increase these numbers through targeted employment initiatives.

RTC Facilities Maintenance SA currently employs 24 South Australians and established its head office in Port Pirie, with branch offices in Mount Gambier, Port Augusta and Gawler. RTC has engaged a good number of apprentices and trainees, Aboriginal workers and Housing SA tenants. It is also facilitating a work for the dole program in the Davenport Aboriginal community near Port Augusta.

Bettio Building Company is a South Australian company that currently employs 11 South Australians for the Housing Trust contract. Bettio has engaged Ngopamuldi Building Company to undertake upgrading and other works in the Raukkan Aboriginal community. Mordangood Pty Ltd is a South Australian company that currently employs 42 South Australians for the Housing Trust contract. MDG also endeavours to engage Aboriginal workers in the Koonibba and Yalata communities near Ceduna.

In addition to their own direct labour, these companies also engage a combined 323 subcontracting companies to deliver services. Extending these contracts to these five multitrade contractors will ensure the continued delivery of vital services to Housing SA tenants across the state and provide ongoing employment and job security to a diverse range of South Australians.