Homelessness Services

Mr SPEIRS (Black—Leader of the Opposition) (14:17): My question is to the Minister for Human Services. Does the minister think it is acceptable to leave South Australians who are at risk of homelessness, rough sleeping and in some cases displaced from their families, waiting almost two weeks before the minister even acknowledges their urgent request for housing, let alone do anything about it?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order, sir: standing order 97. The question involved argument. I would ask that the member rephrase the question and perhaps do it properly.

The SPEAKER: There is some force. I will allow the leader some latitude because he is the leader, but I will give an opportunity to rephrase on this occasion.

Mr SPEIRS: Thank you for your latitude, Mr Speaker. My question again—or rephrased question—is to the Minister for Human Services. Is the minister aware that South Australians who are at risk of homelessness, sleeping rough and could be displaced from their families after traumatic events, are waiting almost two weeks before the minister acknowledges their urgent requests for assistance?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order: standing order 97. The Leader of the Opposition is asserting a fact.

The SPEAKER: It's a matter of fine judgement. The question does appear to contemplate a state of affairs. On this occasion, I am going to permit the question, but I do emphasise standing order 97 to the leader. We wouldn't want it to become a habit.

The Hon. N.F. COOK (Hurtle Vale—Minister for Human Services) (14:18): I'm not aware of that particular situation, but clearly if there was to be a situation like that I would like to act on it. When we actually took over the office there was something like 1,500 emails and messages—

An honourable member: Really, 1,500?

The Hon. N.F. COOK: —1,500. They come in en masse, and the reason that people are resorting to contacting—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Hartley is called to order.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Premier is called to order.

The Hon. N.F. COOK: I'm pretty happy to keep talking. It's their time.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Dunstan is called to order.

The Hon. N.F. COOK: They either want information or not.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members! There are a number of members who are contributing in a manner contrary to standing orders. The minister has the call and has not, as I understand it, concluded the answer.

The Hon. N.F. COOK: As soon as a request comes into our office it is accepted as soon as the email comes into the inbox. As I explained to you, because of the situation of where we currently are in respect to housing and homelessness services, the providers are under an enormous amount of strain because of the way they were structured and the way that the changeover happened in such a rush, so there are more people who are under strain. We've got many more people who are homeless. We have far fewer properties. We saw over the last four years up to 2,000 vacant Housing Trust properties at any given time. We know that currently that number is coming down and that is because of the great work of the Housing Authority who are working under direction to prioritise bringing empty homes online.

I have also spent the last couple of months talking directly to a number of providers about the barriers and the problems that they have been facing in terms of being able to provide support and outreach to people who are in a terrible way in our community. We are heading into winter. I have reached out to our department also in relation to having a review and another look at the Code Blue triggers and the Code Blue situation. We had a winter probably milder than previously. Who knows what is going to happen this time?

We are taking a whole range of strategies across the board to ensure that we are able to provide the best possible outcomes for people who are sleeping rough. My office is absolutely prioritising the—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, the member for Chaffey!

The Hon. N.F. COOK: —information that is coming to them.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Flinders! Member for Chaffey!

The Hon. N.F. COOK: In terms of the particular situation or the particular person, you can provide me with further detail. I can follow that up straightaway now if you like—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Hammond, for Unley!

The Hon. N.F. COOK: —and even have an answer to you before the end—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Hammond is warned.

The Hon. N.F. COOK: —of question time. But without a name, without a date, I don't have any information for you in respect of that particular case. What I have also found today, which you might find interesting, is that there are a range of people who have been reaching out to the minister's office using Minister for Human Services as the email. That's not my email. My email is ministerhumanservices@sa.gov.au, so if somebody has reached out—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Chaffey is called to order.

The Hon. N.F. COOK: —via the incorrect email—

Mr Tarzia interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Hartley!

The Hon. N.F. COOK: —that is something that potentially has not been picked up. I'm really happy to follow up a particular case for any one of you at any time. As you know, I will immediately answer the phone if you pick up the phone to me. I don't know the particular case if you don't give it to me. Obviously, you shouldn't provide details directly in question time, but if you want to give it to me privately I will follow it up—no problem.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! We were doing so well.