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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-11-14 Daily Xml
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SA Housing Authority

Mr TELFER (Flinders) (14:44): My question is to the Minister for Human Services. Has the minister taken action to address concerns raised about living conditions for SA Housing Trust tenants at a property in Henley Beach and, if so, what? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr TELFER: On 8 November, Channel 10 reported that residents of an SA Housing Trust property at Henley Beach had been without washing machines since June this year, despite raising this concern with the government on 19 occasions.

The Hon. N.F. COOK (Hurtle Vale—Minister for Human Services) (14:45): Thank you very much for the question. In fact, I followed up today to check that the washing machines were installed as promised, and they have been. The washing machines had been stolen by people who couldn't give a toss about who lives in public housing and what they need. I think the anger should be taken out on those people who are stealing washing machines and belongings—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister has the call.

Mr Telfer: How many times does it take?

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. N.F. COOK: Well, you know very well how many. I think the anger, as I said, should be taken out on those who wilfully steal or damage public property, public property like washing machines that are being used by people who are on low to no income and can ill afford to be without those amenities.

In order to be able to secure the washing machines more effectively, a deal of work had to be done in the laundry area. I acknowledge that laundries external to people's units are also not ideal, but they are, at the moment, what that particular site has got. So hardened doors, replacement of frames, changed locks, and locks that are unique and only available to the people in certain tenancies allocated to those individual laundries have been put in place.

I have spoken directly with the executive team at the SA Housing Authority to ask them to ensure that they put in as many measures as they possibly can to secure the facilities across not just that site but others so that this sort of behaviour that happens that leaves people without those amenities is mitigated.

The rough synopsis of what had happened at this particular site was several episodes of theft, other episodes of damage, and waiting to get that repair level to a point where we were satisfied that the most risk had been reduced as possibly could be to prevent the repeated occurrence, which would be another theft.

Those washing machines had been ordered and, as I understand it, last week when media attended the property, the washing machines were actually at the shop waiting to be installed. They have been put in. I can't tell you the exact day, but if you are interested I can find that out. The information I had been given last week was that that was going to happen during the week coming.

I have followed up today, anticipating that a question might be asked about this, and I am pleased that the washing machines have gone in and the upgrade to the laundry facility has happened. I hope that other people respect the property and those people in that property are able to use those laundries and not be inconvenienced.

We have made it clear as well to people who have asked that if people are out of pocket or inconvenienced when something like this happens, please communicate with your housing officer. If this sort of event happens, please report it through the appropriate mechanism through the housing maintenance report line.

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