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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-10-12 Daily Xml
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Public Housing

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (14:46): My question is to the Minister for Human Services regarding public housing. The minister announced an allegedly tough new approach to antisocial behaviour in public housing more than 2½ years ago, so why did the full-time carer of a woman with cancer need to contact the media yesterday before any action was taken about serious allegations at public housing in Kent Town, and what does the minister have to say to the tenant who spoke to the ABC yesterday and described the fear that many residents live in?

The PRESIDENT: Once again, I remind the honourable member that she is getting close to asking the minister for an opinion in the second part of that question, but I will call the minister.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (14:47): It gives me great delight to talk about antisocial behaviour policy. The Labor Party do like to have a bit both ways on this.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Ms Bourke has asked a question. Give the minister the courtesy of answering your question.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: Indeed, the Labor Party like to have it both ways in terms of the antisocial behaviour policy. I think when we first brought it out—

The Hon. E.S. Bourke interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: —they were accusing us of being overly tough, and now they are—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. I.K. Hunter: Haven't you got any answers for these residents?

The PRESIDENT: There is an answer, if you would like to listen to it.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: Mr President, it is extremely hard to give a response when members of the Labor Party just constantly interject.

The Hon. I.K. Hunter interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order, the Hon. Mr Hunter!

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: We have seen under our policy the number of evictions rise from the period under Labor. In terms of in 2017 there were 143—

The Hon. I.K. Hunter: Why are you dodging it, Michelle? It's a simple question.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Hunter is out of order.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: —in the 2019-20 year there were 299 evictions

The Hon. I.K. Hunter interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Hunter will remain silent.

The Hon. C.M. Scriven: What about this tenant? That's what the question was about.

The PRESIDENT: And so will the deputy leader.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: We have a much lower tolerance of poor behaviour in our Housing Trust properties.

The Hon. I.K. Hunter: Why won't you answer the question about this resident who had to go on the radio to get a response?

The PRESIDENT: Order! Minister, continue.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: We have had some evictions, which relate to one place having 122 cannabis plants on the property, one place being used to store rifles and stolen property, threats to harm and kill neighbours, and verbal abuse.

The Hon. I.K. Hunter: What's this got to do with a resident who had to go on the radio to get a response? Why are you avoiding that question?

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: My understanding of the case that has been highlighted in the media is that the Housing Authority has been aware of the case and has been working behind the scenes. I understand that, as far as the other tenants are concerned, it may sometimes seem to them that action isn't being taken when in fact there is activity taken behind the scenes.

Of course, we can't just immediately break someone's lease. That is a process that has to go through the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal and evidence needs to be collected in relation to people who do make complaints about their neighbours. They need to ensure that they are collecting that evidence and that we are able to use that against tenants who are behaving poorly. We take antisocial behaviour very seriously, indeed, a lot more seriously than the Labor Party did, and the data has proven itself.

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