NT land councils label CLP’s proposed public housing reforms ‘heartless measures’, ‘draconian’
Two Territory land councils have slammed the government’s proposed public housing reforms, calling them ‘heartless’ and ‘draconian’ – with one asking for the feds to get involved. Find out why.
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New housing reforms promising “no more slaps on the wrist” are being labelled as “heartless measures” and “draconian” by two of the Territory’s biggest land councils – with one asking for federal intervention to stop them.
Both the Northern and Central Land Council slammed Housing Minister Steve Edgington’s proposed public housing reforms, claiming they’re conflicting with the Territory government’s Closing The Gap commitments.
Central Land Council chair Warren Williams called the proposed reforms “draconian tenancy policies” and asked federal Indigenous Australians minister Malarndirri McCarthy to intervene.
“Minister Malarndirri McCarthy has our backing to push the Territory government to get its own house in order rather than go after its tenants,” he said.
Northern Land Council Chair Matthew Ryan said the reforms are “heartless measures” which will “not be effective” and “will not help to build a Territory that is fair and inclusive”.
“The current NT Government needs to pull up right now, go back to the drawing board and start working in genuine partnership with us, like they said they would,” he said.
When announcing the reforms, Mr Edgington said the proposed reforms mean there will be no more “slaps on the wrist” for problem tenants.
The key reform areas, due to take place over the next six months, will see powers increased for public housing officers; improving processes to deal with complaints, fine recovery, and serious tenancy breaches; updating the tenant damage policy; introducing statutory breach notices to manage anti-social behaviour; and increasing accountability under the current ‘red card’ system.
Mr Edgington cited one example of a tenancy with 62 demerit points under the red card system being reallocated a new house in May last year.
A further 158 reports of anti-social behaviour have been recorded at the tenancy since reallocation.
At the time of the announcement, Opposition Leader Selena Uibo said Aboriginal Territorians would be disproportionately impacted by the new policies.
Minister flouts new housing reforms promising no more ‘slaps on the wrist’
The Northern Territory government says it will crack down on anti-social behaviour and rent debt in public housing, promising “no more slaps on the wrist”.
Reforms would strengthen policy and review legislation to deal with anti-social behaviour, serious incidents of crime, tenancy termination and debt management – attempting to recoup $39m in rent arrears.
Housing Minister Steve Edgington said the current system was too lenient to problem tenants, while the public housing waiting list stretched out to a decade in some cases.
Currently tenants can be handed ‘Red Cards’ for behaviour including abuse, violence, property damage, and excessive noise, and may be evicted after six demerits.
Mr Edgington gave the example of one tenancy with 62 Red Card demerit points being relocated to a new house in May last year.
Since then, 158 reports of anti-social behaviour have been recorded for the tenancy.
Mr Edgington said “appalling” levels of rent debt were also an issue, pointing to 1422 tenancies across the urban NT public housing portfolio which had accumulated debt of more than $10,000.
Key reform areas over the next six months will include increasing powers of Public Housing Safety Officers; increasing accountability under the Red Card Policy; streamlining the process to deal with serious tenancy breaches; improving fines recovery; improving the complaints process; introducing statutory breach notices to manage anti-social behaviour; and updating the tenant damage policy.
“These changes send a clear message: anti-social behaviour and unpaid rent won’t be tolerated,” Mr Edgington said.
“There will be no more slaps on the wrist. No more sympathy without safeguards.
“We understand some tenants face challenges, but balance is needed – accountability must be restored for the wellbeing of all Territorians and community security and safety.”
Opposition Leader Selena Uibo said the CLP’s planned public housing reforms were “about punitive approaches, rather than real engagement”.
“The reforms show that the CLP does not listen to the decades and decades of research around the connection between homelessness and crime,” she said.
“The CLP government is now going to be implementing policy that will create more circumstances for homelessness here in the Northern Territory, and also what we believe are more pathways to crime on our streets.
“People who are struggling with their housing tenancy also need to be supported with intensive case management.”
Ms Uibo said the policy would disproportionately impact Aboriginal Territorians in public housing.
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