Lifestyle SA Retirement Villages

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (14:51): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Health and Wellbeing a question about Lifestyle SA villages.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD: Lifestyle SA has recently advised residents' committees that they are no longer able to sell liquor or prepare and sell meals for profit within its 11 villages. The committees are disappointed that they are unable to continue to operate a bar and provide catering for events, and have expressed concern with both the changes and the limited consultation by Lifestyle SA on this matter. Will the minister update the council on the state government's response to residents' concerns?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:52): I thank the honourable member for his question. I do understand that Lifestyle SA has made a decision to prohibit residents' committees from selling alcohol or cooking and serving meals for profit within their villages and has advised residents that, going forward, functions will need to be BYO food and alcohol.

The provision of alcohol and food by residents' committees or otherwise is not covered under the Retirement Villages Act 2016 and associated regulations. This is a matter for the residents' contracts and the rules of the village. Prior to this decision each Lifestyle SA village established an incorporated association which held a liquor licence, enabling it to sell alcohol to residents. In December 2017, changes to the Liquor Licensing Act 1997 came into effect whereby retirement villages no longer needed to hold a liquor licence.

I am advised that as a result of this change Lifestyle SA requested that all the associations surrender their liquor licences, and informed the residents' committees that they were unable to undertake activities previously carried out by the associations, such as selling alcohol and food to residents, meaning the committees would be operating commercial businesses. This is against village rules. Lifestyle SA contracts prohibit any commercial activity in a residence or on common areas of a village without approval. The sale of liquor and meals by the committees are viewed by Lifestyle SA as being commercial in nature.

The government wants villages to be happy, social and community focussed. Residents love this social interaction. Banning residents' committees from running such social activities is in no-one's interest. It is in the best interests of everyone to adopt policies and practices that enhance the ambience and sense of community in their village. We should be encouraging social activities that make residents happy rather than standing in their way.

The committees have been critical in organising and catering for these events, and are keen to continue to do so. For its part, the government is concerned that Lifestyle SA is curtailing residents' socialising, and I urge Lifestyle SA to reconsider this interpretation. It is not in their residents' interests.

I appreciate that residents are upset at this change of direction and that there is considerable frustration resulting from Lifestyle SA's lack of consultation with residents. Understandably, residents would like an opportunity to ask questions and seek clarification on the new arrangements and, in particular, allay any concerns that the changes will result in the ceasing of regular social activities in the villages.

The Office for the Ageing has advised Lifestyle SA that they have an obligation to consult with residents and residents' committees, in accordance with clauses 5 and 6 of the regulations. I am advised that Lifestyle SA will undertake consultation with all residents' committees in the coming weeks. The Aged Rights Advocacy Service is funded by the South Australian government to operate the retirement villages resident advocacy service, which provides information and advocacy support to residents of retirement villages. I encourage any residents requiring support in their dealings with Lifestyle SA or in understanding their rights to contact this service.

I will be writing to the residents' committees in each of the 11 Lifestyle SA villages outlining that the provision of alcohol and food by residents' committees or otherwise is not covered under the Retirement Villages Act 2016 and drawing their attention to the availability of the retirement villages resident advocacy service should they need support in dealing with this matter. The government will consider what action may need to be taken once these processes are concluded.