This article in last Friday’s Brisbane Times reported on a new ‘three strikes’ policy for social housing tenants. Whilst there is limited detail about the policy at this stage, there are several concerns with this announcement.
Friday’s statement by Housing Minister Tim Mander follows on from previous Housing Minister, Dr Bruce Flegg, who announced the policy intent at the opening of the National Housing Conference in Brisbane last November. We assume that Minister Mander’s policy will broadly follow the parameters set out in Dr Flegg’s speech. Here’s a quote from that speech:
“The overwhelming majority of public housing tenants do the right thing, however there is a minority whose anti-social behaviour can affect the lives of those around them,” Dr Flegg said.
“I am proposing to crack down on these unruly tenants by asking them to leave if they receive three strikes within 12 months for disruptive behaviour like noisy parties, vandalism or destroying property.
“If tenants have engaged in assault, acts of violence or drug manufacturing, the department would immediately initiate legal action to evict them.
Such statements might sound reasonable to many people and have populist appeal but, when looked at in depth, do they achieve the government’s desired outcome?
This article discusses the following questions: are there unintended consequences for vulnerable households, will these changes undermine due process in dealing with allegations of ‘unruly conduct’; does the government already have the power to do what these changes propose to do; and, is it fair to develop such a policy where there is no tenant advocate to engage with the government about the proposals. Continue reading
