❓ A parliamentary question regarding public housing transfers for individuals experiencing family and domestic violence (FDV). The response indicates data limitations and provides general information on support services and security upgrades.
AnsweredQoN 291Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Public housing—Transfers
291. Hon Jess Beckerling to the parliamentary
secretary representing the Minister for Housing and Works:
I refer to the
recent horrifying news that a young mother has died after being evicted from a
Department of Housing and Works house two weeks after giving birth, and amidst
a family and domestic violence crisis.
(1) How many transfer applications have
been submitted to the department in the last 12 months by people who identified
FDV risk as the primary reason for needing a transfer?
(2) Of those, how many are still waiting
to be transferred?
(3) What is the average wait time for
someone awaiting transfer who identifies FDV risk as the primary reason for
transfer?
(4) What is the longest wait time
currently in that same cohort of applicants?
The President: Parliamentary Secretary representing
the Minister for Housing and Works, I just point out that that is also seeking
a significant amount of data. We will see if you are able to answer it.
291. Hon Jess Beckerling to the parliamentary
secretary representing the Minister for Housing and Works:
I refer to the
recent horrifying news that a young mother has died after being evicted from a
Department of Housing and Works house two weeks after giving birth, and amidst
a family and domestic violence crisis.
(1) How many transfer applications have
been submitted to the department in the last 12 months by people who identified
FDV risk as the primary reason for needing a transfer?
(2) Of those, how many are still waiting
to be transferred?
(3) What is the average wait time for
someone awaiting transfer who identifies FDV risk as the primary reason for
transfer?
(4) What is the longest wait time
currently in that same cohort of applicants?
The President: Parliamentary Secretary representing
the Minister for Housing and Works, I just point out that that is also seeking
a significant amount of data. We will see if you are able to answer it.
AnswerView source ↗
Thank you,
President, and I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. I
am concerned that the answer breaches standing order 106, due to its length,
and I therefore seek leave to have the answer incorporated into Hansard .
Leave granted for
the following material to be incorporated.
(1)–(3) Data is not available in the
manner requested. Waitlist data is point in time data only.
Public housing is not
emergency or transitional housing and tenants who disclose concerns relating to
family and domestic violence are supported with referrals to relevant local
support services. Tenant engagement with these services is voluntary.
To support tenants who
disclose they are experiencing family and domestic violence, the Department of
Housing and Works (DHW) provides security upgrades to public housing properties
in accordance with its Family and Domestic Violence Policy. This assistance is
undertaken in consultation with tenant support services and the WA Police
Force.
As at 31 March 2026,
there were 199 applications on the Public Housing Priority Transfer list
statewide with a Domestic and Family Violence priority list category.
Transfer times for
public housing vary dependent on the availability and turnover of suitable
properties in the applicant's nominated zone and according to their assessed housing
requirements. Even where applicants are seeking a priority transfer, they may understandably,
seek very specific locations for children to remain at local school, or specific
housing requirements.
(4) The information
requested by the Member cannot be provided in the time, as it requires a manual
review of individual files. However, if the Member wishes to place this
question on notice, the Minister will endeavour to provide a response.
President, and I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. I
am concerned that the answer breaches standing order 106, due to its length,
and I therefore seek leave to have the answer incorporated into Hansard .
Leave granted for
the following material to be incorporated.
(1)–(3) Data is not available in the
manner requested. Waitlist data is point in time data only.
Public housing is not
emergency or transitional housing and tenants who disclose concerns relating to
family and domestic violence are supported with referrals to relevant local
support services. Tenant engagement with these services is voluntary.
To support tenants who
disclose they are experiencing family and domestic violence, the Department of
Housing and Works (DHW) provides security upgrades to public housing properties
in accordance with its Family and Domestic Violence Policy. This assistance is
undertaken in consultation with tenant support services and the WA Police
Force.
As at 31 March 2026,
there were 199 applications on the Public Housing Priority Transfer list
statewide with a Domestic and Family Violence priority list category.
Transfer times for
public housing vary dependent on the availability and turnover of suitable
properties in the applicant's nominated zone and according to their assessed housing
requirements. Even where applicants are seeking a priority transfer, they may understandably,
seek very specific locations for children to remain at local school, or specific
housing requirements.
(4) The information
requested by the Member cannot be provided in the time, as it requires a manual
review of individual files. However, if the Member wishes to place this
question on notice, the Minister will endeavour to provide a response.
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