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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-09-08 Daily Xml
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Public Housing

The Hon. I. PNEVMATIKOS (14:51): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Human Services regarding housing.

Leave granted.

The Hon. I. PNEVMATIKOS: On 30 July, during estimates hearings, questions were raised regarding ceiling replacements in public housing, including people living in unsafe conditions, who would need to move out for repairs to happen. The minister committed to take further action, but despite correspondence being sent and questions being asked in the media, people are still waiting for help.

The opposition understands that one resident heard yesterday the work will start soon. The resident is now fearful, given the state of the property next door, where residents just moved back after having their ceilings replaced. The residents have advised the opposition that during repair works items were stolen from the home; the property was left open, with no-one present, for extended periods; switches for lights now trigger fans instead; and the Housing Authority approved payment for the work and approved the family to move back in despite plaster not having been sanded back, no paint over repaired areas and the property being filthy with dust and grime from the work.

My question to the minister is:

1. Would the minister approve work of this quality?

2. Why should people be forced to live in circumstances such as this?

3. Would the minister describe these fussy tenants, who should be grateful for a home, even if it's unsafe and left in a filthy condition by paid contractors who allegedly left the property unsecured?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (14:53): I thank the honourable member for her question. In the first instance, of course, any situation as she has described on the face of it we would be very concerned about, and I would encourage all honourable members who come across instances where Housing Trust tenants are being left with unsatisfactory or unsafe situations to contact us immediately so that we can rectify it, as has often not been the case, unfortunately, with the Labor Party.

In relation to the ceiling replacement program, I can advise that the South Australian Housing Authority discovered that there had been incorrect materials installed between 2002 and 2009 by a former builder, and the ceiling fault needed immediate remediation in some instances, so those immediate ones took place.

It affected some 267 properties, and 100 properties were identified with ceiling defects. Twenty-eight were identified as requiring immediate work to make safe, which included repair or temporary props. By 12 August this year, all tenants of properties identified at risk had been contacted through correspondence advising that the ceiling boards needed replacement and to contact the authority.

Some of this was impacted by the lockdown. Any tenants who were affected by the lockdown either remained in temporary accommodation or the remediation maintenance works were deferred. For the health and safety of tenants, it's a requirement that the properties are empty while the ceilings are replaced, with works being delivered through multitrade contractors.

As at 12 August, the replacement of ceilings to 17 further properties had been completed. I would urge the honourable member, if she has instances of individuals who have had an unsatisfactory situation, to contact us and we will see what we can do to rectify it.

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