SOCIAL HOUSING — BED BUG INFESTATION
1089. Hon STEVE MARTIN to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Housing:
I refer to the recent Channel Nine
news item regarding Anne Blurton and her three-year-old daughter, who are
living in bed bug–infested social housing accommodation.
(1) Is the minister aware of Anne
Blurton's request to move into more suitable accommodation?
(2) Can the
minister give an undertaking that Anne Blurton and her daughter will not be
forced to remain in their existing accommodation and that alternative
accommodation will be found urgently?
(3) Is the
minister aware of other residents suffering from an infestation of bed bugs at
the housing complex where Anne Blurton currently resides?
Hon SUE
ELLERY replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1)–(3) The
Department of Communities advises that the tenant applied for and was approved
a priority transfer prior to reporting concerns of a pest infestation.
Communities is aware of one other tenancy reporting issues with a pest
infestation in the last fortnight. Prior to these reports, there have been no
pest infestation complaints at the complex in the preceding two years.
Bed bugs are generally known to
travel on items of clothing, linen or furnishings such as mattresses.
Communities' maintenance policy outlines that tenants are responsible
for the eradication of cockroaches, fleas, common ants and other pests when
this occurs in the tenant's private defined area as a result of the
tenant's actions. Notwithstanding, Communities is in contact with the
tenant and contractors to determine the necessary action to resolve the matter.