Page 3708 - Week 12 - Thursday, 22 November 2007
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affected during an episode of poor mental health, the government’s response involves talking to neighbours. What I am picking up from the community is that the time for talking is over; they have done a lot of talking and they have been listening, but a lot of the issues are still not being resolved. That then leads on to further antisocial behaviour, which then tends to spin out of control. So it is an issue; it is something we need to be more determined to fix. As I said, it sounds good on paper, but in practice, there are still many problems associated with people who have a mental health condition and who have been housed in the wider community.
With respect to reviewing its Managing Disruptive Neighbours policy introduced in 2005-06, I would like to know where that review is up to now. More broadly, antisocial behaviour seems to be creeping all too much into complaints to my office, and to the minister’s office, I know, because we pass them on. There may need to be a bipartisan approach about people who have tenancy agreements, particularly in public housing.
The response to recommendation 11 talks about the provision of joint training for Housing ACT, Mental Health ACT and community service providers. I would add Policing ACT to that list. I think it is critical that the police are involved and not sidelined as some adjunct to any discussions that take place in regard to episodes that people with a mental health condition may have and/or antisocial behaviour. I have been calling for quite some time for a better working relationship between all relevant departments and organisations involved with problem tenants, so I welcome that.
With respect to recommendation 13—that Housing ACT examine the ratio of specialist housing managers to clientele to ensure the right balance is met, and assesses this need on a periodic basis—the government maintains that a recent review of client support coordinator positions found the number to be adequate. I would have to question that because of the number of complaints to my office. Maybe there is a better way of doing that. Maybe, from where I sit, there is a different perspective. I keep trying to pass the information on to the minister where I can.
The government has referred to training courses. Again, what are they? I would like more details about how it is going to do that. That sounds positive. How effective is the training and equipping of staff to deal with the highly complex needs of those in our community with mental health issues? It is pleasing to see that the government agrees in principle with the halfway house concept.
We welcome the government’s response. I am happy to talk further with the minister about my perspective of public housing. I am happy to give any further help that I can on that, and work with him. I thank the government for their response.
MR HARGREAVES (Brindabella—Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Minister for Housing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (11.34): I am pleased to have the opportunity today to debate in further detail the ACT government’s response to Standing Committee on Health and Disability Report 4, Appropriate housing for people living with mental illness.
The standing committee resolved in March 2005 to inquire into, and report on, the current levels of safe, secure and affordable housing for people with mental illness,
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