HOUSING SA

The Hon. K.L. VINCENT (14:58): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Social Housing questions regarding increases in community housing rent.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.G. Wade interjecting:

The Hon. K.L. VINCENT: There's only one way to find out. As of last month Housing SA increased rentals for about 6,000 tenants in community housing across South Australia. I have been contacted by a number of constituents who are on fixed low incomes, including some with disabilities, about the financial stress that this is creating in their lives. Whilst I am aware that clients of community housing were informed of the changes some time ago, the impact on the lives of people on fixed incomes is no less now that the increased rental costs are being levied against these clients.

Whilst to those on politicians' wages $10 a week may not be a large amount, to someone on a low income a rental increase of $20 per fortnight every six months for two years could be a significant burden. Whilst I acknowledge that the regulatory framework surrounding community housing has changed with its move to Housing SA, there are still many clients and families of community housing that continue to do a large amount of administrative and maintenance work for free, for no charge, in this sector. This is in stark contrast to management and maintenance of public housing administered by Housing SA, where costs are borne by the department.

The state government dipping into commonwealth rent assistance allowances each fortnight is perhaps understandable, but allowing this to cause a substantial increase in rents for these clients is unfair. Rates of poverty and social disadvantage amongst community housing clients are already higher than the general population, so this policy change risks plunging some into financial crisis. My questions to the minister are:

1. Does the minister acknowledge the significant burden of administration and paperwork by community housing clients and their families to gain commonwealth rent assistance from Centrelink?

2. Does the minister accept that they are levying those least able to afford it with this increase?

3. Does the minister acknowledge that a significant amount of work is being done by clients and families of community housing that sets the sector apart from public housing that is also administered by Housing SA?

4. If community housing clients are in financial stress created by the increase in rental costs, is there a fund available to assist them?

5. Is the minister concerned that community housing tenants may find themselves unable to afford basic services such as telephone, communications or medical costs?

6. Given that many of the constituents who use community housing for accommodation are on limited and fixed incomes, how does the minister anticipate that they will be able to survive with the increased rental costs in addition to their daily living expenses such as food, essential services and medical costs?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Tourism, Minister for the Status of Women) (15:01): I thank the honourable member for her most important questions and will refer them to the Minister for Social Housing and bring back a response.