Mrs BRAHAM - 1994-08-23
In the government's domestic policy strategies, one of the key elements lists the need for the Department of Lands, Housing and Local Government to review its policy regarding priority housing needs of women escaping domestic violence situations. This has been an area of concern for some time and I believe the minister convened a working party earlier in the year to address the issue. What is the outcome of the activities of this working party, and what recommendations will be adopted to assist women in this area?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I am able to confirm that a working party, comprised of community groups representing women and also government departments, was convened in January this year with the objective of establishing a women's housing policy to address, in particular, the issue of women escaping domestic violence. I am pleased to be able to say that, after working on that all year, that working party has finalised its recommendations to me. I have accepted those recommendations and the document is now complete except for its printing and publication. I expect the document to be released publicly within 3 to 4 weeks when it will become available to women.
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That policy is consistent with other government initiatives that address the issue of domestic violence. The policy forms part of an overall package of programs across government which are designed to address the very difficult issue of women escaping domestic violence. The policy is a significant and very important part of those programs. The policy document, which is in booklet form, provides women with information on violence against women generally and describes the specific eligibility criteria for public housing for women in need of housing assistance as a result of domestic violence. Significantly, with the introduction of the policy, women escaping violence will have improved access to housing assistance which is a basic requirement in re-establishing their independence.
One of the great difficulties has been that, while shelters for women in crisis deal with the first 24 hours or so, there has been a need to move people from that crisis accommodation and it has been necessary to re-establish housing for those women at the earliest opportunity and, in many cases, also for children and other members of the family who could be placed in jeopardy in the interim. One of the concerns expressed to us by the women who advised us was that the longer people stayed in crisis accommodation, the longer it was before they dealt with the very serious psychological problems that emerged. As I said earlier, with the introduction of this policy, women escaping violence will have improved access to housing assistance.
The document also provides guidelines for the staff of my department to ensure that women seeking assistance are treated with sensitivity at what inevitably is a time of stress and difficulty. Staff are guided also as to action that is appropriate in referring women to other services, ensuring that linkages are established and maintained which provide the women with support for all their needs. Staff training will be a further aspect of the implementation of the policy. A program that provides staff with the necessary skills is being developed in consultation with the Office of Women's Affairs.
The policy is important. It is an important addition to other government programs against domestic violence and complements especially the recently-introduced guidelines for priority housing that recognise domestic violence as a basis for seeking that form of housing assistance. This booklet not only will provide the outline of the policy and programs, but also will address specific matters such as waiving a person's ineligibility when they are already the owner of another home because often women who are escaping domestic violence are joint owners of the family home. Because that requirement will be waived for women who are escaping domestic violence, that hurdle has been removed from the system, although means testing still applies. Secondly, there is the matter of debts that may be owed to the Housing Commission. Usually, these need to be cleared before people are assessed eligible for housing, but that will no longer be a hurdle for women who are escaping domestic violence. In fact, if it can be demonstrated that the debt arose out of violence in the home, it will not be chargeable to the woman who is escaping from domestic violence. If there is some kind of shared-cost arrangement in place, that would include an agreement in relation to time to pay and that would not prevent access to housing for this purpose.
The document provides also a very comprehensive list of counselling and support services that are available to women who face domestic violence. I am sure that the policy will be a great addition and I would like to offer my thanks to those who were involved on the working party to develop this program. It is a very important development in a very sensitive
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and emotional area for women. When members have the chance to read this document, I think that they will agree that it is quite a significant initiative on behalf of Northern Territory women.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I am able to confirm that a working party, comprised of community groups representing women and also government departments, was convened in January this year with the objective of establishing a women's housing policy to address, in particular, the issue of women escaping domestic violence. I am pleased to be able to say that, after working on that all year, that working party has finalised its recommendations to me. I have accepted those recommendations and the document is now complete except for its printing and publication. I expect the document to be released publicly within 3 to 4 weeks when it will become available to women.
Page 48
That policy is consistent with other government initiatives that address the issue of domestic violence. The policy forms part of an overall package of programs across government which are designed to address the very difficult issue of women escaping domestic violence. The policy is a significant and very important part of those programs. The policy document, which is in booklet form, provides women with information on violence against women generally and describes the specific eligibility criteria for public housing for women in need of housing assistance as a result of domestic violence. Significantly, with the introduction of the policy, women escaping violence will have improved access to housing assistance which is a basic requirement in re-establishing their independence.
One of the great difficulties has been that, while shelters for women in crisis deal with the first 24 hours or so, there has been a need to move people from that crisis accommodation and it has been necessary to re-establish housing for those women at the earliest opportunity and, in many cases, also for children and other members of the family who could be placed in jeopardy in the interim. One of the concerns expressed to us by the women who advised us was that the longer people stayed in crisis accommodation, the longer it was before they dealt with the very serious psychological problems that emerged. As I said earlier, with the introduction of this policy, women escaping violence will have improved access to housing assistance.
The document also provides guidelines for the staff of my department to ensure that women seeking assistance are treated with sensitivity at what inevitably is a time of stress and difficulty. Staff are guided also as to action that is appropriate in referring women to other services, ensuring that linkages are established and maintained which provide the women with support for all their needs. Staff training will be a further aspect of the implementation of the policy. A program that provides staff with the necessary skills is being developed in consultation with the Office of Women's Affairs.
The policy is important. It is an important addition to other government programs against domestic violence and complements especially the recently-introduced guidelines for priority housing that recognise domestic violence as a basis for seeking that form of housing assistance. This booklet not only will provide the outline of the policy and programs, but also will address specific matters such as waiving a person's ineligibility when they are already the owner of another home because often women who are escaping domestic violence are joint owners of the family home. Because that requirement will be waived for women who are escaping domestic violence, that hurdle has been removed from the system, although means testing still applies. Secondly, there is the matter of debts that may be owed to the Housing Commission. Usually, these need to be cleared before people are assessed eligible for housing, but that will no longer be a hurdle for women who are escaping domestic violence. In fact, if it can be demonstrated that the debt arose out of violence in the home, it will not be chargeable to the woman who is escaping from domestic violence. If there is some kind of shared-cost arrangement in place, that would include an agreement in relation to time to pay and that would not prevent access to housing for this purpose.
The document provides also a very comprehensive list of counselling and support services that are available to women who face domestic violence. I am sure that the policy will be a great addition and I would like to offer my thanks to those who were involved on the working party to develop this program. It is a very important development in a very sensitive
Page 49
and emotional area for women. When members have the chance to read this document, I think that they will agree that it is quite a significant initiative on behalf of Northern Territory women.
Page 50
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016