Page 1894 - Week 05 - Thursday, 10 May 2018
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(1) How many complaints do you receive each year concerning anti-social and criminal behaviour by public housing residents, including multiple complaints from a single complainant.
(2) Out of the total received, what is the categorisation of complaints in terms of (a) nuisance and disturbance including, but not limited to, noise, other disruptive activity, intimidation, abuse and other threatening behaviours, (b) criminal allegations or reports of criminal activity including, but not limited to, theft, vandalism, drug taking, assault, trespass, break and enter and the like, (c) placement of rubbish, debris, motor vehicles and furniture in a way that impinges on or disrupts neighbours or impacts on the amenity and tidiness of the neighbourhood and (d) other categories of complaints.
(3) Other than criminal allegations or reports of criminal activity, how many complaints constitute breaches of the Housing ACT Tenancy Lease Agreement.
(4) What types of action does the Minister take in relation to complaints.
(5) How many complaints are resolved each year without resort to ACAT.
(6) How many complainants are advised to take their problem to ACAT.
(7) How many public housing tenants or residents or are evicted or relocated as a result of complaints.
Ms Berry: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) Please refer to page 85 of the Community Service 2016-17 Annual report available at Http://www.communityservices.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/1114528/CSD-Annual-Report-2016-17_v2.pdf
(2) See above
(3) Housing ACT captures and sorts complaints under the categories of anti social behaviour, fraud, property condition, maintenance and other. The complaints data process does not specify if a breach of the tenancy agreement has been established. It would be an administrative burden to try and extract this data from hard copy files.
(4) Complaints are referred to Housing ACT for a range of actions, from communication with the parties, review of supports and referrals, to legal action (usually as a last resort).
(5) Housing ACT seeks to work actively with clients and the community in an attempt to resolve concerns and will only refer a matter to the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal once all attempts have been made. Three Performance Orders were issued to public housing tenants for anti-social behaviour, by the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal in 2016-17.
(6) If a complainant is not happy with a response to their complaint they may seek an independent arbiter to assess their complaint. The independent arbiter could be the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal, the Human Rights Commission or the ACT Ombudsman.
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