Southern Metropolitan Region
Katherine COPSEY (Southern Metropolitan) (12:44): (399) My question is for the Minister for Housing. One of my constituents in Southern Metro is a resident of public housing who has recently lost her job and has applied for the JobSeeker allowance. She currently has no income, and during this cost-of-living crisis daily costs are rapidly depleting her savings. Added to this, she is now being threatened with eviction from her public home as she cannot pay her rent. She recently requested a rent reduction from the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing and she was informed it can only be assessed once she has secured the JobSeeker allowance. However, we all know that there are increasing wait times for Centrelink. Currently, and despite the department’s awareness of this situation, she is still being threatened with eviction. Minister, given Centrelink wait times have increased over the years, will the government revise its policy so rent reduction is available from when a JobSeeker application is submitted so that public housing tenants are not driven further into poverty while waiting for Centrelink approvals?