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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, First Session (53-1)
2014-08-05 Daily Xml
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Housing SA

The Hon. J.A. DARLEY (15:27): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, representing the Minister for Social Housing, questions regarding Housing SA.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.A. DARLEY: A former ward of the state who was sexually abused and gave evidence to the late Ted Mullighan has recently contacted me regarding Housing SA. This disability pensioner is a Housing SA life tenant and is living in a small block of seven units but has recently been advised that the management and control of their property will be transferred to community housing. My constituent is unequivocally opposed to this move due largely to the fact that most community housing organisations are run by church groups and my constituent was also sexually abused by the church. My constituent does not want to live in housing which is controlled and managed by his abusers. My constituent has raised these objections with Housing SA and has also contacted the minister’s office directly; however, he has been advised that he has no choice in the matter.

The general consensus is that, because the community housing organisations are only branches of the church and there will be no direct contact with the church itself, my constituent should be comfortable with the arrangement. My constituent is not alone in his objections. The other tenants in the small seven-unit complex have signed a petition opposing the move to community housing. They understand that tenants in community housing need to apply for commonwealth rent relief through Centrelink and that there is a requirement to do this biennially, which is an impost they currently are not subjected to. My questions are:

1. Does the minister condone such treatment of an ex ward of the state?

2. Can the minister advise whether any consideration has been given for other Housing SA tenants in similar situations?

3. Will the minister consider allowing certain properties to remain being managed by Housing SA if the tenant can provide a justifiable reason for their objection to a transfer to community housing?

4. Will the minister undertake to consider my constituent's matter personally?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (15:29): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. It has been a long time since I have been minister for social housing but my understanding is that not all community housing providers are, in fact, affiliated with a religious organisation. It may very well be the case; I do not know the circumstances in this situation. In relation to the honourable member's constituent and their tenancy arrangements with their community housing provider, that may be the case but I don't know. I will undertake to take his questions to the Minister for Social Housing in the other place. I also invite him to provide the details of his constituent's concerns to the minister in the other place so that she might liaise with him directly on this matter.

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