‘Housing is culpable’: Frustrated family call for inquiry into death
The family of a man who died of a drug overdose after being refunded overpaid rent while living in social housing has called for an investigation into an alleged admin bungle.
Cairns
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THE family of a man who died of a drug overdose after being refunded overpaid rent while living in social housing has called for an investigation into an alleged admin bungle that contributed to the death.
Described as a loveable rogue, 78-year-old Michael Beizlle struggled with the curse of addiction for most of his life and had been a social housing resident for 10-years when he was rushed to Cairns Hospital suffering from a drug-related heart attack in the first week of February.
On April 8 life support machines were turned off and Mr Beizlle died.
Family members including the late Mr Beizlle’s sister Bebe Mawer and niece Kim McConnie have demanded answers from the Department of Housing whose staff have still not finalised the matter.
“We still don’t have an answer to what is going on, we have had a death certificate and we have had a memorial and everything is just lingering,” Ms Mawer said.
The pair had flagged their relative’s drug use as a concern with Housing and learning of a $2,500 credit that had accumulated due to rent overpayments gave specific instructions that the money not be released.
The pair claim a department employee told Ms McConnie a new worker had deposited the cash into Mr Beizlle’s bank account which was understood to have been withdrawn the next day.
“We didn’t want Michael to get that money, Housing knew Michael was a drug addict and they knew if they gave him that money he would not spend it wisely,” Ms Mawer said.
“I am appalled by the unethical practices in the Housing (Department.)
“I questioned why a government office would be giving out money and they said we have a new girl and she did it,” Ms McConnie added.
Arriving in Cairns two weeks ago to tidy up Mr Beizlle’s affairs the family were shocked to discover the Westcourt unit in a “disgusting mess” and squatters living at the Curtin St property.
“One bloke was still there (squatting) for five weeks after Michael died,” Ms Mawer said.
“There are women and children on the street and there is a two-bedroom unit sitting empty.”
Frustrated by an uncooperative department, grieving family members have condemned the handling of the situation and stated “incompetence” had contributed to Mr Beizlle’s death.
“They have contributed to his death. Housing is culpable for some of this,” brother John Beizlle said.
And for sister Bebe Mawer the tragedy was that an elderly community member had fallen through the cracks.
“It’s a bit of a mess,” she said.
“He has been let down by the system and the community has been let down by the system,”
“If all this had not happened Michael could still be alive.”
A Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy spokeswoman cited “privacy laws” as reason for not commenting on Mr Beizlle’s death despite the Privacy Act not applying to deceased individuals.
The spokeswoman stated cash can be refunded to tenants through the department’s Excess Credit policy.
“All decisions about refunds are made in accordance with this policy,” she said.
On Tuesday, the doors and windows of the vacant unit were bordered up.
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Originally published as ‘Housing is culpable’: Frustrated family call for inquiry into death
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