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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-05-13 Daily Xml
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Public Housing

The Hon. I. PNEVMATIKOS (14:50): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Human Services on housing.

Leave granted.

The Hon. I. PNEVMATIKOS: Irene of Greenacres turns 99 in July and lives in public housing. She is now on her 10th day of no water, as we go through nights where temperatures have been dropping down to 6°. Irene first contacted the Housing Authority on Tuesday 4 May and then called again on the Friday. The weekend passed with no action, and her son began to advocate. Irene's son called on Monday, Tuesday and again on Wednesday, before contacting his local MP, which appears to have caused someone to visit, but it is now Thursday and the hot water is still not fixed. My questions for the minister are:

1. What does the minister have to say to Irene?

2. How old does someone have to be, or how long does a person have to go without hot water, before they can get their hot water system fixed?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (14:51): I thank the honourable member for her question. Clearly, that is an unacceptable delay for Irene, and we apologise to her. In terms of our priority times, I am happy to outline for the chamber that they are as follows. Priority one is maintenance which is immediately dangerous and may affect someone's health and safety, such as exposed live electrical parts, and work is expected to start within four hours of it being reported.

Priority two is maintenance that causes serious inconvenience to the tenant—such as the example that she has outlined—such as no hot water, a blocked toilet or something that has the potential to be dangerous, such as an unearthed metal light fitting, and work should start within 24 hours of it being reported or at a time agreed with the tenant. There are two other priority areas.

That is unacceptable. I would urge the honourable member, and indeed the MP's office, to contact my office with any of these immediately on 8463 6560 and speak to my relevant ministerial liaison officer, who will get onto it.

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