Question Time

Whitmore Square Soup Kitchen

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (15:07): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Human Services regarding homelessness.

Leave granted.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: On Sunday, the ABC reported on efforts by the Chief Executive of the Department of Human Services to close a soup kitchen for the homeless. The report stated, and I quote, Ms Boswell said 'she made the Sunday afternoon visit in her capacity as the chair of a new taskforce'. My questions to the minister are:

1. When exactly did this new task force resolve that its chair should seek to close the soup kitchen for the homeless?

2. When exactly was the minister first informed that closing a soup kitchen was an agreed priority of this new task force?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (15:08): I thank the honourable member for his question. Once again, Labor come in here with false information posing as questions without notice. The CE of the Department of Human Services has stated publicly and I would refer the honourable member to Ms Boswell's public statements in which she advised the group that was informally providing services in Whitmore Square that they required a council permit, which she has stated they admitted that they knew to at the time. She has not asked them to close their service.

My understanding is that the council and SAPOL have asked that group to find alternative methods to provide support. I might suggest that there are a range of formal service providers that work extensively with this cohort of people. The Chief Executive of the Department of Human Services has indeed been working across government with a range of other government departments to provide support and assistance to ensure that this cohort of people are safe and getting the support they need.