Page 961 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 21 April 2021
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MS BERRY: That number is not linear. It moves and changes frequently as allocations occur, as houses are sold or as they are demolished or built across the ACT community. I would have to go and get that information for today, but generally it is around that targeted mark of around 400. You need to have some vacancies in your housing stock to allow for allocations, relocations, demolishing, upgrades and sales. That 400 is around the figure that Housing ACT targets for each year, making sure that they meet 96 per cent to 97 per cent occupancy within housing dwellings, but having some flexibility so that we can meet tenants’ needs as their lifestyles and circumstances change. That is an important part of Housing ACT’s work in managing stock and allocations.
Public housing—disruptive behaviour
MRS KIKKERT: My question is to the Minister for Homelessness and Housing Services. Minister, no doubt you receive numerous reports about antisocial behaviour in public housing—reports of assaults, intimidation and people being too terrified to walk out of their front door. Minister, how many times have you visited public housing since becoming the minister?
MS VASSAROTTI: I thank the member for her question. We think it is really important that everyone has access to a good amenity, and all of our tenants—as are all tenants across the ACT—are subject to the Residential Tenancies Act. We absolutely take antisocial behaviour really seriously and respond to it.
In terms of the number of times I have been to public housing since I have been the minister, I would have to take that on notice. I have certainly visited public housing tenancies, but I am unable, without referring to my diary, to provide—
Mr Parton: Just give us a ballpark.
MS VASSAROTTI: Sorry?
MADAM SPEAKER: You do not need to respond to interjections.
MS VASSAROTTI: I do not know. I will have to look at my diary, because it is something that I have been doing a bit of. I will need to take it on notice.
MRS KIKKERT: Minister, have you spoken to ACT police or other authorities about this antisocial behaviour?
MS VASSAROTTI: I thank the member for her supplementary question. Certainly, Housing ACT work very regularly on responding to the issues of tenants, whether it be the issues of tenants or tenants as neighbours. Certainly, some of the issues that are faced by tenants in relation to antisocial behaviour involve non-residents as well, as is the case across the ACT community. Through Housing ACT, there is strong engagement about issues as they arise, on a regular basis.
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