Social housing - Disruptive behaviour management policy

Extract from Hansard
[COUNCIL — Tuesday, 9 August 2011]
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Hon Lynn MacLaren; Hon Simon O'Brien

SOCIAL HOUSING — DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOUR MANAGEMENT POLICY

Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the minister representing the Minister for Housing:

(1) Is the minister aware that there is significant concern in the WA community sector regarding the
government’s proposal to legislate its disruptive behaviour management policy for social housing?

(2) What consultation did the government undertake with key stakeholders, including the Western
Australian Council of Social Service, Shelter WA, the Community Housing Coalition of WA, and the
Tenants Advice Service regarding the implementation of this policy in both the social and community
housing sectors?

(3) Is the government aware these stakeholders believe this policy will produce unintended consequences
that will create more problems for government and increase the demand on already overloaded
community services?

(4) Will the government take up the community sector’s offer to work with government towards an
effective, collaborative strategy that brings together support services and people impacted by the
policy?

Hon SIMON O’BRIEN replied:

I thank the honourable member for notice of the question.

(1) Yes.

(2) Public submissions were invited in relation to the implementation of the 2009 disruptive behaviour
management strategy. The policy implemented in May 2011 was a revision of the 2009 policy, which
was not delivering the outcomes sought by government.

(3) Yes.

(4) The Department of Housing works collaboratively with government and non-government stakeholders
that have responsibilities to respond to disruptive behaviour, and support tenants to prevent escalation
of these issues. The department would welcome any proposal by the community sector, within the
parameters of current government policy, to assist in preventing disruptive behaviour impacting on the
broader community.