Independent MP Frank Pangallo slams Housing Trust amid row over ‘hoarder’ eviction

The independent MP says he is furious that the SA Housing Trust tried to stop him advocating for a severely disabled elderly client.

Frank Pangallo MLC. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Emma Brasier

Independent MP Frank Pangallo has blasted SA Housing Trust for trying to prevent him helping an elderly and severely mentally unwell female constituent whom the Trust was attempting to evict.

Housing Minister Nick Champion presser re northern suburbs housing milestone as building approvals soar Image/Russell Millard Photography

The Trust argued Mr Pangallo’s involvement in the matter would create a “power imbalance” in the $500m a year state government department’s litigation against the disabled pensioner over some serious hoarding issues at her Parkside residence.

Mr Pangallo said he initially objected to the woman being evicted but now accepted the decision. He said his involvement was mainly to make sure she was being tranferred into another Trust property and her belongings would not be discarded.

In a letter seen by The Advertiser, Trust compliance services principal advisor Gerard Ferrao wrote to SA Civil and Administrative Tribunal (SACAT) objecting to Mr Pangallo’s appearance as a “legal representative or friend” for the elderly woman.

Mr Ferrao argued that Mr Pangallo’s involvement would “intimidate” the tribunal members. Mr Ferrao, whose objection was dismissed by SACAT, also suggested that Mr Pangallo’s “political status” could result in a “power imbalance” in their litigation against the Housing Trust resident.

This prompted Mr Pangallo to write to Housing Minister Nick Champion, accusing Mr Ferrao of “trying to impede an elected member of parliament from carrying out their duties on behalf of a vulnerable member of the public”.

The Advertiser sent several questions to the Trust, asking what level of approval Mr Ferrao had in trying to remove Mr Pangallo as the woman’s representative.

The questions were referred to Mr Champion’s office, which did not directly answer them. Instead, in a statement, Mr Champion said: “The Housing Trust will have zero tolerance towards hoarding.”

Originally published as Independent MP Frank Pangallo slams Housing Trust amid row over ‘hoarder’ eviction