Hove Level Crossing

The Hon. J.E. HANSON (15:03): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Human Services regarding housing.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.E. HANSON: On 4 March, I asked the minister how the management of the Hove crossing project aligned with her own housing strategy that says, and I quote from that strategy:

At the heart of each key strategic direction is a commitment to put the needs of [our] customers first.

In response, the minister said, and I quote:

The authority does the following: [it] provides as much information as possible and makes sure the tenant is central to the decision-making process.

My question to the minister is: given the minister has apologised for not allowing the authority to give them as much information as possible, does the minister still believe it is possible to put the customers first?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (15:04): I thank the honourable member for his question. Certainly, in relation to the way that the authority has been working with the tenants who were to be affected by the Hove crossing, the authority was working with tenants on a one-to-one basis to support them through the relocation process. When they offer a tenant an alternative, they do provide as much information as they possibly can. They make every reasonable attempt to minimise disadvantage, considering the tenant's age, health, special needs and circumstances—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: —including paying any reasonable costs, including relocation costs, and offering the tenants a similar type and length of tenant agreement as they have had in their existing property. My understanding is that that is certainly the process that the authority has taken in this.