South Australian Housing Authority

The Hon. S.L. GAME (15:12): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before directing a question to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, representing the Minister for Housing and Urban Development, regarding the SA Housing Authority.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.L. GAME:The Advertiser has revealed, following a six-month investigation, that South Australian tradies have not been paid for repairs to SA Housing Authority properties. Subcontractors and trade leaders have suggested carpenters, electricians and plumbers are owed tens of thousands of dollars for work, some of which was invoiced in 2023.

We already know that the SA Housing Authority has unoccupied stock due to the need for maintenance work to be conducted before these properties can be deemed liveable. Now, contractors are at the point of refusing jobs until payment is received for work they have already completed. I am aware of the case of subcontractor Wade Bekesi of BBS having to sell his block of land to make ends meet due to late payment. All the while, SA Housing Authority properties continue to crumble amid worsening problems as we experience a statewide housing crisis.

The $1 billion SA Housing Authority maintenance contract is suffering from a rising rate of late Housing Trust maintenance orders despite a record low number of repairs in 2023. My questions to the minister are:

1 Can the minister explain where the money is? Is it Spotless Facility Services or the government holding up payments to contractors?

2. What effect does the minister believe it is having on the mental health of hardworking South Australian tradies trying to provide for their families?

3. Can the minister advise how much of the Spotless facilities services $630 million taxpayer-funded eight-year contract awarded in 2022 for social housing maintenance services has been spent on social housing maintenance to date and how much has been paid to subcontractors?

4. Is the minister aware if SA Housing Authority tenants are living in unsafe conditions as they wait for maintenance orders to be actioned and if subcontractors are being forced to work below industry rates and standards in dangerous situations?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:15): I will refer the question to the relevant minister in the other place and bring back a response.