Page 958 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 21 April 2021
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MS CLAY: Minister, does the government have a plan for the shopping centre at Mackellar, which has stayed undeveloped for almost a decade?
MR STEEL: I thank the member for her question. I will take that on notice. I do not think it strictly fits into my portfolio area.
Housing ACT—eligibility
MR PARTON: My question is to one of the housing ministers. It is written here as the Minister for Housing and Suburban Development. I sense that it may be—
MADAM SPEAKER: Ask the question, Mr Parton.
MR PARTON: The government sets income thresholds and eligibility rules for public housing.
Ms Vassarotti: Sorry, what was the question?
MR PARTON: I think I’m with you now. The government sets income thresholds and eligibility rules for public housing. Constituents have contacted me and raised concerns about public housing tenants who appear to no longer be eligible for that public housing dwelling. Minister, how exactly does this government monitor that public housing tenants remain eligible to live in public housing?
MS VASSAROTTI: I thank the member for the question. It is a really important question because we do want to ensure that everyone has a decent home in which to live, and the role that public housing plays is really important for that, particularly for people that are vulnerable and people in need. Certainly, we know that, currently, 99 per cent of people that get allocated public housing are those in the most need. That really speaks to the eligibility criteria.
On the question around how eligibility is maintained: that assessment is done when people are being assessed for public housing. The issues around income eligibility get assessed on an ongoing basis, to ensure that they are being appropriately managed in relation to whether or not they hit income thresholds or whether they should be treated as a market renter.
MR PARTON: Minister, what happens if a public housing tenant’s income exceeds the eligibility threshold? What happens to that tenant?
MS VASSAROTTI: I thank the member for the supplementary question. With the issue of eligibility as to income, there are a range of processes that are gone through by Housing ACT. Generally, there is a discussion in terms of setting income thresholds. There is also a program that works with tenants that may be better served in other market rentals. That is a discussion that happens with tenants.
MS LEE: Minister, how do you ensure that the public housing tenants are the same people that are on the lease?
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