❓ Mr. Zempilas questions the Premier regarding alleged eviction threats to vulnerable people in Safety Bay. The Premier denies move-on notices were issued and highlights government efforts to address homelessness.
AnsweredQoN 243Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Homelessness—Safety Bay
243. Mr Basil Zempilas to
the Premier:
I refer to media
reports that the Premier's government is threatening to evict struggling
pensioners and veterans living in their cars or in tents on Memorial Drive in
Safety Bay.
(1) Did the department of the Minister
for the Environment; Homelessness recently warn people on Memorial Drive that they
would be receiving move-on notices?
(2) Has the government now decided to put
a halt to this callous action?
(3) If so, why did it take a media report
for the government to do the right thing by these vulnerable people?
243. Mr Basil Zempilas to
the Premier:
I refer to media
reports that the Premier's government is threatening to evict struggling
pensioners and veterans living in their cars or in tents on Memorial Drive in
Safety Bay.
(1) Did the department of the Minister
for the Environment; Homelessness recently warn people on Memorial Drive that they
would be receiving move-on notices?
(2) Has the government now decided to put
a halt to this callous action?
(3) If so, why did it take a media report
for the government to do the right thing by these vulnerable people?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) I thank the member for the question. I cannot
answer for the Minister for the Environment; Homelessness in relation to the
advice he has been given, but I can confirm that no-one has been given a move-on
notice, and certainly not by Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and
Attractions officials, unlike what we saw in the media reports. I appreciate that
a lot of information is going around in relation to these matters.
But these are difficult
circumstances for people experiencing homelessness in Rockingham and Safety
Bay. I want to acknowledge the concern in the local community with respect to
the plight of these individuals. I know that the member for Rockingham has
personally visited the Point Peron area, talked to the people involved and met
directly with rough sleepers there to better understand their needs and the
services already in place. I know that the member for Rockingham is working
closely with the Minister for Homelessness on this issue. I am advised that the
homeless engagement assessment response team is regularly attending the site,
assessing needs and actively linking individuals to support services. We have
invested a record $10.8 billion in housing and homelessness measures since
2021, delivered 3,900 social homes and opened the East Perth Common Ground.
As I said, services have been
regularly attending the area and trying to engage with those at the site to
provide them with supports. They have provided support drop-in clinics to
support those with housing applications, health referrals and access to other
services. DBCA has not issued any lawful direction notices for people to
vacate, but we know when areas like this arise, there can be safety issues, so
it is important the agencies and supports on the ground continue to engage, and
they have been doing that.
People impacted by homelessness do
so commonly because of a range of complex social and related issues. From that
perspective, our hearts go out to them. But these are complex issues and they
deserve complex solutions. People trying to either demonise them or politicise
their plight does not do justice to the complexity of the issues that sit
behind them.
answer for the Minister for the Environment; Homelessness in relation to the
advice he has been given, but I can confirm that no-one has been given a move-on
notice, and certainly not by Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and
Attractions officials, unlike what we saw in the media reports. I appreciate that
a lot of information is going around in relation to these matters.
But these are difficult
circumstances for people experiencing homelessness in Rockingham and Safety
Bay. I want to acknowledge the concern in the local community with respect to
the plight of these individuals. I know that the member for Rockingham has
personally visited the Point Peron area, talked to the people involved and met
directly with rough sleepers there to better understand their needs and the
services already in place. I know that the member for Rockingham is working
closely with the Minister for Homelessness on this issue. I am advised that the
homeless engagement assessment response team is regularly attending the site,
assessing needs and actively linking individuals to support services. We have
invested a record $10.8 billion in housing and homelessness measures since
2021, delivered 3,900 social homes and opened the East Perth Common Ground.
As I said, services have been
regularly attending the area and trying to engage with those at the site to
provide them with supports. They have provided support drop-in clinics to
support those with housing applications, health referrals and access to other
services. DBCA has not issued any lawful direction notices for people to
vacate, but we know when areas like this arise, there can be safety issues, so
it is important the agencies and supports on the ground continue to engage, and
they have been doing that.
People impacted by homelessness do
so commonly because of a range of complex social and related issues. From that
perspective, our hearts go out to them. But these are complex issues and they
deserve complex solutions. People trying to either demonise them or politicise
their plight does not do justice to the complexity of the issues that sit
behind them.
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