Ms LAWRIE - 2005-03-23
Could you please outline actions that are being taken to address unruly public housing tenants in Alice Springs?
Madam SPEAKER: Good question, member for Karama. We will all be interested in this.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I choose to stand at this podium because, on my left, I look at the opposition and they are so provocative …
Members interjecting.
Mr AH KIT: See! I told you.
I thank the member for Karama for the question. First, I would like to say that the vast majority of Territory Housing tenants are excellent. However, having said that, I also acknowledge that there are problems in Alice Springs with unruly Territory Housing tenants and their visitors. The Martin Labor government takes these matters seriously, and we are combating the problems on a range of fronts. We are dealing with nuisance behaviour when it occurs and I will outline how we are doing this. We are educating tenants and prospective tenants about appropriate behaviour, and providing advice to neighbours about the steps to take if they become concerned about noise and nuisance behaviour from Territory Housing tenants.
Because I want to hear about the issues first hand, I recently met with some residents from the Ashwin and Lewis Streets area in Alice Springs when I was here for the Wizard Cup. We had a very constructive discussion and, on the basis of it, I have asked my department to consider some new proposals for managing properties. I will be able to report back about that within coming months.
We are listening to people and we will continue to apply methods that work and look for new methods as well. For instance, after hearing people’s concerns, we extended the Shane Ride Security hours to offer a dedicated service for Territory Housing from 6 pm to 7 am. This patrol goes to key areas across Alice Springs, including major complexes and individual houses where problems have been reported. This security service has reported a significant reduction in incidents, particularly in the Larapinta area, since November last year. I am told that, at the time the security service was extended last November, there were between 12 and 15 places that had noise and nuisance problems of varying degrees. There are now only six.
Although I do not see these results as a reason to rest easy on noise and nuisance, this is a definite improvement. This improvement has been echoed in the stories of different people. When I met with concerned residents in the member for Araluen’s electorate, they spoke of their frustration with our tenants but acknowledged that the situation had improved in recent months. We have also implemented changes for dealing with noise and nuisance proactively, through education and appropriate support to tenants and neighbours. We have in place the Good Neighbour Policy and are promoting a message to the bush for prospective tenants about tenants’ rights and responsibilities.
We have put in place three additional positions in Alice Springs. We have an Indigenous Community Liaison Officer doing an excellent job coordinating with key community service providers and with individuals to build better tenancies. We have also successfully filled one of the two tenancy positions, with a focus on environmental health. These are new positions in a constructive attempt to improve the situation in Alice Springs. When it comes to responding to noise and nuisance behaviour I need to …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The minister’s answer is excessively long. Clearly, he is taking up time because he does not want to face questions from this side of the House.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, could you please conclude your remarks quickly. We want other questions.
Mr AH KIT: Madam Speaker, the member for Macdonnell and the member opposite whinge, whine and complain about …
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, just get on with your answer, thank you. Get a move on. Read fast!
Mr AH KIT: When it comes to responding to noise and nuisance behaviour, I must comment on calls for eviction. Eviction is a matter for the courts, and history has shown that the courts can require substantial evidence. I have asked my department to work with the Department of Justice. I want them to think innovatively about the process of complaint leading up to eviction, and how new solutions can be found, because we know that simplistic solutions are not going to work, and that we need to take a whole-of-government approach to this.
I also acknowledge the support of the Minister for Central Australia in this matter. He held a meeting in December last year across a number of agencies and organisations and, as a direct result of that meeting, government is pursuing five important proposals that would also help make a difference.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! You have given the minister an instruction. He is obviously reading. Why does he not just table the document and get on with Question Time?
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, would you please conclude your answer.
Mr AH KIT: I am almost there, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Faster, please.
Mr AH KIT: If they stop being provocative and interjecting, I might get on with it. We are redeveloping short-term accommodation offices at Stuart Lodge at a cost of $2.2m. We are considering the development of a short-term managed camp ground, the wardens program is being strengthened, we are looking at innovative ways of reducing alcohol consumption, and we have in place a Special Events strategy for major events such as the Wizard Cup. I know these issues are of concern to the people of Alice Springs, and also acknowledge your efforts on behalf of many people with concerns regarding antisocial behaviour. I urge everyone to work together on these issues. Shouting and demanding will not work; cooperation and solution seeking will.
Madam SPEAKER: Good question, member for Karama. We will all be interested in this.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I choose to stand at this podium because, on my left, I look at the opposition and they are so provocative …
Members interjecting.
Mr AH KIT: See! I told you.
I thank the member for Karama for the question. First, I would like to say that the vast majority of Territory Housing tenants are excellent. However, having said that, I also acknowledge that there are problems in Alice Springs with unruly Territory Housing tenants and their visitors. The Martin Labor government takes these matters seriously, and we are combating the problems on a range of fronts. We are dealing with nuisance behaviour when it occurs and I will outline how we are doing this. We are educating tenants and prospective tenants about appropriate behaviour, and providing advice to neighbours about the steps to take if they become concerned about noise and nuisance behaviour from Territory Housing tenants.
Because I want to hear about the issues first hand, I recently met with some residents from the Ashwin and Lewis Streets area in Alice Springs when I was here for the Wizard Cup. We had a very constructive discussion and, on the basis of it, I have asked my department to consider some new proposals for managing properties. I will be able to report back about that within coming months.
We are listening to people and we will continue to apply methods that work and look for new methods as well. For instance, after hearing people’s concerns, we extended the Shane Ride Security hours to offer a dedicated service for Territory Housing from 6 pm to 7 am. This patrol goes to key areas across Alice Springs, including major complexes and individual houses where problems have been reported. This security service has reported a significant reduction in incidents, particularly in the Larapinta area, since November last year. I am told that, at the time the security service was extended last November, there were between 12 and 15 places that had noise and nuisance problems of varying degrees. There are now only six.
Although I do not see these results as a reason to rest easy on noise and nuisance, this is a definite improvement. This improvement has been echoed in the stories of different people. When I met with concerned residents in the member for Araluen’s electorate, they spoke of their frustration with our tenants but acknowledged that the situation had improved in recent months. We have also implemented changes for dealing with noise and nuisance proactively, through education and appropriate support to tenants and neighbours. We have in place the Good Neighbour Policy and are promoting a message to the bush for prospective tenants about tenants’ rights and responsibilities.
We have put in place three additional positions in Alice Springs. We have an Indigenous Community Liaison Officer doing an excellent job coordinating with key community service providers and with individuals to build better tenancies. We have also successfully filled one of the two tenancy positions, with a focus on environmental health. These are new positions in a constructive attempt to improve the situation in Alice Springs. When it comes to responding to noise and nuisance behaviour I need to …
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The minister’s answer is excessively long. Clearly, he is taking up time because he does not want to face questions from this side of the House.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, could you please conclude your remarks quickly. We want other questions.
Mr AH KIT: Madam Speaker, the member for Macdonnell and the member opposite whinge, whine and complain about …
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, just get on with your answer, thank you. Get a move on. Read fast!
Mr AH KIT: When it comes to responding to noise and nuisance behaviour, I must comment on calls for eviction. Eviction is a matter for the courts, and history has shown that the courts can require substantial evidence. I have asked my department to work with the Department of Justice. I want them to think innovatively about the process of complaint leading up to eviction, and how new solutions can be found, because we know that simplistic solutions are not going to work, and that we need to take a whole-of-government approach to this.
I also acknowledge the support of the Minister for Central Australia in this matter. He held a meeting in December last year across a number of agencies and organisations and, as a direct result of that meeting, government is pursuing five important proposals that would also help make a difference.
Mr ELFERINK: A point of order, Madam Speaker! You have given the minister an instruction. He is obviously reading. Why does he not just table the document and get on with Question Time?
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, would you please conclude your answer.
Mr AH KIT: I am almost there, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: Faster, please.
Mr AH KIT: If they stop being provocative and interjecting, I might get on with it. We are redeveloping short-term accommodation offices at Stuart Lodge at a cost of $2.2m. We are considering the development of a short-term managed camp ground, the wardens program is being strengthened, we are looking at innovative ways of reducing alcohol consumption, and we have in place a Special Events strategy for major events such as the Wizard Cup. I know these issues are of concern to the people of Alice Springs, and also acknowledge your efforts on behalf of many people with concerns regarding antisocial behaviour. I urge everyone to work together on these issues. Shouting and demanding will not work; cooperation and solution seeking will.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016