Homelessness Alliances

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (14:35): My question is to the Minister for Human Services regarding mental health. How exactly will the new homelessness system avoid discharges into homelessness from acute mental health wards? Given the minister's previous answer in this place, does the minister's answer depend on whatever definition of homelessness is convenient today?

The Hon. S.G. Wade: That's comment.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (14:35): As my colleague the Minister for Health and Wellbeing disorderly interjects, there was some comment in that particular question, but we will let that go through to the keeper. There is regular connection between the homelessness sector and the LHNs, I think they are called, to ensure that health services are reminded that they should not actually be discharging people into homelessness. That has happened on occasion and we get onto that very quickly if we discover that that is actually taking place. I can't remember what the comment was.

The Hon. E.S. Bourke: The definition of homelessness.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: Yes; so the Labor Party have taken some exception to a comment that I have made at some point about the definition of homelessness. In the community, I think a lot of people conflate rough sleeping as homelessness and don't realise that in the official Australian Institute of Health and Welfare definition it actually includes temporary accommodation. So people who may be residing in boarding houses or in crisis accommodation are actually considered homeless.

For instance, we have a new site, which is called The Waymouth, which has some temporary accommodation for people where they certainly have access to a comfortable room and a bed to sleep, somewhere to put their clothes, a shared kitchen and shared bathroom and laundry facilities, but that is actually still technically considered homeless. It is something the Labor Party have decided to take exception to. I think within the community there are various understandings of what homelessness is. My comments reflect that in the community there are a range of understandings of that particular matter.