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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2020-02-19 Daily Xml
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Public Housing

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:28): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Human Services regarding public housing.

Leave granted.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: Yesterday, when confronted with a vulnerable person facing homelessness, the minister cast doubt on that person's circumstances because it was asked by the opposition. The minister said yesterday, 'It is well known that the…opposition comes in here with partial facts and fabricates some particular details,' before suggesting that people check their fingers after shaking hands with the opposition. This politicising of human suffering took place—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: —instead of seeking a solution for a vulnerable person.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: The minister then made statements about SACAT procedures. My questions to the minister are:

1. Since 2.15 yesterday, what exactly has the minister done to ensure that this person will not be evicted into homelessness?

2. Given the person's circumstances are a matter of record on the SACAT order, which details is the minister casting doubt on about this person's circumstances?

3. What documents did the minister rely on when she claimed that SACAT 'does not have a practice of evicting into homelessness'?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (14:30): In relation to the third question, that is a direct briefing that I have had from my agency, the South Australian Housing Authority, which has regular discussions with SACAT on this matter to ensure that processes are being adhered to. In relation to the veracity of Labor Party facts, I take as a default position that one ought always to be sceptical about what the Labor Party says and relays. We know that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in this place fabricated a whole range of facts in relation to a question to make it sound like the circumstances were quite different.

In relation to the first question, as the opposition knows because they made the comment yesterday in question time, my office has received a letter from a Labor MP in relation to this case. The date of that letter I am not entirely sure, but I know that this week my office, prior to question time, has been working on that case to resolve it for the benefit of the resident.

The Hon. K.J. Maher: What have they done?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: I'm not going to talk about individual cases.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Are you finished? Sit down.

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