RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY — SUBSIDENCE —
YANCHEP
1120. Hon PETER COLLIER to
the minister representing the Minister for Commerce:
This question is asked on behalf of
Hon Michael Mischin, who is on urgent parliamentary business.
I refer to my letters to the
minister of 27 July and 18 September 2020, on behalf of his constituents Mr
Chris and Mrs Karen Mettimano, whose family home in Yanchep is subsiding
through no fault of their own and which may become uninhabitable.
(1) Given that it
is 12 weeks since I first wrote to the minister on their behalf, why has he not
written to acknowledge, let alone give a substantive answer to, my correspondence
on their behalf?
(2) Precisely
what has the minister or the government done to assist the Mettimanos, and
when?
(3) Precisely
what is the minister or the government doing to investigate the cause of the
subsidence, to determine who is responsible for their predicament, and to
facilitate their obtaining redress, and when?
(4) What is the
status of any class action to assist the Mettimanos, and when will the minister
advise them?
Hon
ALANNAH MacTIERNAN replied:
I thank the member for the
question. The Minister for Commerce has provided the following information.
(1)–(4) The
minister is profoundly sympathetic to Mr and Mrs Mettimano's situation.
However, this complex matter is under consideration and the minister will
respond as soon as he is able to. The minister is advised that the question of establishing responsibility
for the land subsidence in relation to Mr and Mrs Mettimano's
home is not solely within the remit of the Building Commissioner and the
Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and
Safety, particularly as the builder of the home has been deregistered by the
Australian Securities and Investments Commission. There are several
parties, including land developers and local government, who may have a role to
play in this situation. Nevertheless, the minister has asked DMIRS to assist
the Mettimanos with gaining an understanding of what avenues they should
explore.