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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-07-25 Daily Xml
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HOUSING SA AMNESTY

Ms BETTISON (Ramsay) (14:15): My question is to the Minister for Social Housing. Can the minister inform the house about moves to ensure all South Australia's public housing tenants pay their fair share of rent?

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light—Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (14:15): I would like to thank the member for her question. The South Australian government is committed to delivering a fair and equitable rent system for the more than 70,000 people accommodated in Housing SA properties around the state.

The income that Housing SA receives in rent, without doubt, plays an important part in our ability to maintain a viable public housing system. This money enables us to maintain Housing SA properties and also to build new public housing that can provide more homes for more South Australians on either low incomes or those at risk of homelessness. That is why it is important we have a rent system in place that is fair and equitable for all tenants.

I am pleased to inform the house that this week I have written to all public housing tenants to inform them there will be an amnesty during August. Under the amnesty, our public housing tenants will be able to declare any undeclared income or any undeclared household members without penalty. While I have no doubt in my mind that most of our public housing tenants are doing the right thing, there are clearly some who are not.

Whether it is an innocent mistake or deliberate evasion, the month of August will be an opportunity for those tenants to correct the record without fear of penalty. Housing SA wants to hear from people who may not be sure that they are paying the correct rent; those tenants whose circumstances may have changed and who are worried about possible penalties; as well as those tenants who know they should be paying more.

The amnesty will also give other community members the opportunity to anonymously report a situation where they believe there is a tenant who has not declared their full income or, alternatively, unapproved household members living in the property. This approach is not unique to South Australia and has proven to be successful in other jurisdictions.

In New South Wales, an amnesty was offered between January and March this year with great results. In that state, there were more than 3,500 reports, involving more than 5,000 undeclared tenants. As a result of the amnesty in New South Wales, that state's public housing authority expects to generate an additional $6½ million in rent a year. In Queensland, an amnesty was offered in July last year. As a result of that amnesty, more than 2,300 additional household members were registered, resulting in about $5 million in additional rent a year.

I would encourage all those tenants who believe their circumstances may have changed or know they should be paying more to take advantage of this amnesty. However, if they do not take the opportunity to report any undeclared household members or undeclared income, and are later found to have them, there will be consequences.

The penalties include the payment of any back rent owed and, in some cases, the potential termination of a tenancy agreement. Any tenants or community members who wish to take advantage of the housing amnesty will be able to call Housing SA on 1300 138 093 during business hours, or email Housing SA on housingsa.amnesty@dcsi.sa.gov.au or submit an online form via the Housing SA website at any time. Again, I would encourage people to take advantage of this amnesty while it is on offer, and I do stress, the amnesty is about rent. Should there be any other activity which is not lawful there will be no amnesty.

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