Legislative Council Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1) 55 1 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time South Australian Housing Authority South Australian Housing Authority The Hon. S.L. GAME Legislative Council South Australian Housing Authority The Hon. S.L. GAME (15:21): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before directing a question to the Minister for Primary Industries, representing the Minister for Human Services, about the South Australian Housing Authority. Leave granted. The Hon. S.L. GAME Legislative Council The Hon. S.L. GAME: I have been reliably informed that there are up to eight South Australian Housing Authority homes currently unoccupied on Kangaroo Island at a time of high demand. My office has been contacted by a constituent living on Kangaroo Island who has a family member currently living in inappropriate caravan park accommodation facilitated through Junction. The family member is suffering from a mental health condition that is exacerbated by the current circumstances relating to this accommodation. Despite being classed as category 1 for public housing, more suitable accommodation has not been provided, notwithstanding these homes lying dormant. My questions to the minister are: 1.	Why are these public houses unoccupied in the middle of a housing crisis? 2.	How is it appropriate for a client of Junction to be placed in accommodation that is having a detrimental effect on a diagnosed mental health condition? The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN Legislative Council Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister for Forest Industries The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:23): I thank the honourable member for her question. Whilst I will refer the specifics of her question to the minister in the other place who has ministerial responsibility, I do know that questions about vacant Housing Authority houses in other regions have certainly been raised. It is just worth pointing out that there can be a range of reasons as to why a home may be vacant or appear to be vacant, including such things as requiring to have work done on it to make it of a suitable standard, and we are all aware, I think, of the difficulties in getting trades and skilled labour available to do the work, particularly given, of course, there is a lot of ongoing work on Kangaroo Island following the devastating fires of a couple years ago. Similarly, it may be that a tenant is ill and away due to ill health, perhaps undergoing medical treatment for an extended period or rehabilitation. All sorts of reasons may result in a property not appearing to be occupied. However, as I mentioned, I will refer to the minister in the other place.