1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:01,560 Speaker 1: We hear a lot about public housing. 2 00:00:01,600 --> 00:00:03,480 Speaker 2: We hear a lot about concerns that people have got 3 00:00:03,520 --> 00:00:06,600 Speaker 2: when it comes to public housing and problem tenants in 4 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:10,600 Speaker 2: public housing. Now a petition has been launched called had 5 00:00:10,760 --> 00:00:13,560 Speaker 2: a Gutful and it's going to be at MLA Matthew 6 00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:16,560 Speaker 2: Curl's office on Saturday to push for people to sign it, 7 00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:21,320 Speaker 2: calling on the government to take stronger action against problem tenants. 8 00:00:21,680 --> 00:00:25,960 Speaker 2: Now joining us on the line is a frustrated Palmerston resident. 9 00:00:26,400 --> 00:00:27,680 Speaker 1: Good morning to you. 10 00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:30,560 Speaker 3: Good morning Kading, Good morning to your listeners. 11 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:32,559 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for your time this morning. 12 00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:34,680 Speaker 2: Now, can you let us know about some of the 13 00:00:34,680 --> 00:00:37,480 Speaker 2: things that you've experienced over the years. 14 00:00:38,440 --> 00:00:43,600 Speaker 3: Yeah. Look, my family and the surrounding neighbors of this 15 00:00:44,240 --> 00:00:50,080 Speaker 3: number one problem Territory housing property have been experiencing the 16 00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:55,320 Speaker 3: most awful anti social behavior, criminal activities, rights in the street, 17 00:00:56,120 --> 00:01:06,360 Speaker 3: stabbing police, chasing DV people and getting arrested in our backyard. Yeah, 18 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:08,360 Speaker 3: it's appalling. 19 00:01:09,400 --> 00:01:11,839 Speaker 2: I mean, you know what, I would love to say 20 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:15,320 Speaker 2: that I think you're alone with having terrible you know, 21 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:19,920 Speaker 2: public housing tenants live nearby as well, But it's terrible 22 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:23,360 Speaker 2: to say that. You know, there are others experiencing maybe 23 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:26,280 Speaker 2: not quite as bad as what you are, but very similar, 24 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:28,840 Speaker 2: which points to a larger issue for me. 25 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:34,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, and look, that's exactly right, Katie. I could have 26 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:39,080 Speaker 3: just you know, a big held quiet, you know, and 27 00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:43,000 Speaker 3: just be another isolated case. But I know the territory. 28 00:01:43,120 --> 00:01:45,640 Speaker 3: I've lived here for twenty seven years. I've reached my 29 00:01:45,760 --> 00:01:50,360 Speaker 3: family and yeah, and I have just seen this borrow 30 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:55,280 Speaker 3: out of proportions across many communities in the Northern Territory. 31 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:56,280 Speaker 1: And you've had enough. 32 00:01:56,520 --> 00:01:58,920 Speaker 2: I mean, how long have you been pushing for change 33 00:01:58,960 --> 00:02:03,560 Speaker 2: when it comes to this, you know these residents. 34 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:08,919 Speaker 3: Well, I've been and my fellow neighborhood has been regularly 35 00:02:08,919 --> 00:02:13,960 Speaker 3: reporting to the Department of Housing and the Northern Territory 36 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:16,480 Speaker 3: Police Force for over two years. 37 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:20,119 Speaker 1: Now, wow, over two years. 38 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:24,639 Speaker 2: You've had stabbings, You've had riots in the street, You've 39 00:02:24,680 --> 00:02:26,799 Speaker 2: had all sorts of things going on. 40 00:02:26,919 --> 00:02:28,359 Speaker 1: What has the response been. 41 00:02:30,480 --> 00:02:35,120 Speaker 3: Well, basically, it has taken for a major incident to 42 00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:40,320 Speaker 3: have occurred last May to have empt Department of Housing 43 00:02:40,800 --> 00:02:43,959 Speaker 3: to pull their finger out and organize an eviction hearing 44 00:02:44,040 --> 00:02:45,359 Speaker 3: to ant cut. 45 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:47,119 Speaker 1: And so where's that at? 46 00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:47,399 Speaker 3: Now? 47 00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:48,799 Speaker 1: Where are things at at the moment? 48 00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:52,680 Speaker 3: Well, the most discipline thing, Katie is that it just 49 00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:56,799 Speaker 3: keeps getting deferred and deferred, and so we're looking at 50 00:02:56,840 --> 00:03:01,040 Speaker 3: next month. At this stage, however, the ten through NAJA 51 00:03:01,960 --> 00:03:06,399 Speaker 3: keeps seeking referral after referral and a deferral I should say, 52 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:11,200 Speaker 3: and yeah, you know, the residents here are just over it. 53 00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:13,440 Speaker 3: We just want them out and we want them out now. 54 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:15,160 Speaker 1: But it just seems like. 55 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:18,040 Speaker 2: It just blows my mind, right that you know that 56 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:23,280 Speaker 2: somebody can be living in public housing or living in 57 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:27,120 Speaker 2: subsidized housing doing the wrong thing, outright, doing the wrong thing, 58 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:30,520 Speaker 2: and and there is just sort of no means. 59 00:03:30,600 --> 00:03:32,440 Speaker 1: It feels like for those that. 60 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 2: Live around that tenant to be able to take you 61 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:39,120 Speaker 2: any action, or or for there to be any action. 62 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:42,120 Speaker 1: It blows my mind that that is the situation. 63 00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's you know the impact that it has on 64 00:03:47,480 --> 00:03:50,520 Speaker 3: you know, had has had on my family. I mean, 65 00:03:50,640 --> 00:03:54,480 Speaker 3: I'm unstress leave at the moment because my husband and 66 00:03:54,480 --> 00:03:59,000 Speaker 3: I witness machete building kids breaking into a neighbor's property 67 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:05,720 Speaker 3: to this property and yeah, and they were home a 68 00:04:05,760 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 3: mother and son who are private renters and have three dogs, 69 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:13,880 Speaker 3: and and that just blew my mind and my husband 70 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:17,320 Speaker 3: she has been off on leave as well, you know, 71 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:21,760 Speaker 3: just to protect our sur babies and our lifestyle and house. 72 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:24,720 Speaker 3: It's just a horrible, horrible situation. 73 00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:27,800 Speaker 2: It is now, you know, I know that that obviously 74 00:04:27,839 --> 00:04:31,479 Speaker 2: this keeps being deferred. What are you calling for now 75 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:33,960 Speaker 2: you've launched this petition, What are you hoping that this 76 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:35,000 Speaker 2: petition does? 77 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:40,239 Speaker 3: Well. I just want the antique community as a whole 78 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:45,599 Speaker 3: to just come together and you know, demand urgent action 79 00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:51,200 Speaker 3: and updates of the current legislation, which is out of date. However, 80 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:55,840 Speaker 3: I've read the legislation and the Tendency Act and you know, 81 00:04:55,960 --> 00:05:00,279 Speaker 3: and have quoted those numerous times. The Department Housing, their 82 00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:04,440 Speaker 3: lack of inaction has just been appalling. I mean out 83 00:05:04,480 --> 00:05:08,120 Speaker 3: in our particular instance, the tenants you know, weren't even 84 00:05:08,200 --> 00:05:10,600 Speaker 3: living there for over six months, and we're subletting the 85 00:05:10,640 --> 00:05:15,080 Speaker 3: property out too, apparently member and their family. And when 86 00:05:15,080 --> 00:05:19,520 Speaker 3: I raised that with Housing over two years ago, yeah, 87 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:22,880 Speaker 3: they were unaware that that was happening and failed to 88 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:27,080 Speaker 3: enact their legislation, which is the law, you know. And 89 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:30,799 Speaker 3: to keep community members safe, I mean, people don't feel 90 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:33,279 Speaker 3: safe in the streets. And you see those videos on 91 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:38,000 Speaker 3: Facebook from whate'er and peppy and and people go holy crap, like, 92 00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:40,480 Speaker 3: thank god it's out there. Well, I'm sorry, but it's 93 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:44,280 Speaker 3: actually happening in town now, in our urban lifestyles. And 94 00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:48,120 Speaker 3: I've had numerous fights with these people over the fence 95 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:50,800 Speaker 3: and said, hey, if I wanted to live on community, 96 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:54,520 Speaker 3: I would, but don't bring your community lifestyle into urban 97 00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:56,440 Speaker 3: where we choose not to live like that. 98 00:05:57,160 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 2: So, in terms of the petition, now, it's going to 99 00:05:59,880 --> 00:06:03,320 Speaker 2: be at Matthew Courl's office tomorrow, is that correct? 100 00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:06,360 Speaker 3: Correct? Between eleven am and one pm? 101 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:08,680 Speaker 1: And then is he going to be am? 102 00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:10,720 Speaker 2: I correct in understanding that he's going to be then 103 00:06:10,760 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 2: presenting that to Parliament next month or in March. 104 00:06:13,560 --> 00:06:18,160 Speaker 3: Sorry, correct, March sittings, Katie. And I've also got an 105 00:06:18,279 --> 00:06:23,560 Speaker 3: online link available for members that can't make it, and 106 00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:28,800 Speaker 3: I'm hoping with the successor tomorrow that I'll host other 107 00:06:29,480 --> 00:06:32,400 Speaker 3: community signing forums in other communities. 108 00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:34,800 Speaker 2: Is it just on change dot org or where can 109 00:06:34,839 --> 00:06:35,920 Speaker 2: people see that petition? 110 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:41,160 Speaker 3: Andtie had a gut for petition and it's unchanged. 111 00:06:42,480 --> 00:06:45,040 Speaker 2: Well, look, I really appreciate you joining us this morning 112 00:06:45,240 --> 00:06:47,960 Speaker 2: and you know, letting us know about this. And as 113 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:50,760 Speaker 2: I said, I know that you are not alone, so 114 00:06:50,839 --> 00:06:53,600 Speaker 2: I've no doubt there'll be other people wanting to jump 115 00:06:53,640 --> 00:06:55,480 Speaker 2: on board and sign that petition. 116 00:06:56,400 --> 00:06:59,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, thanks, thank you for giving me some time today. 117 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 1: Oh worries at all. Thank you so much for your time. 118 00:07:02,920 --> 00:07:05,039 Speaker 2: Now that number, if you'd like to call through eight 119 00:07:05,120 --> 00:07:07,560 Speaker 2: nine four one one four nine, I'll tell you what 120 00:07:07,560 --> 00:07:10,760 Speaker 2: you'd be beside yourself if you're in this situation that 121 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:16,600 Speaker 2: that concerned Palmeston resident, frustrated Palmston resident is in, and 122 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:20,840 Speaker 2: you know, having having that kind of thing happening around 123 00:07:20,840 --> 00:07:24,400 Speaker 2: your place, I mean on stress leeve because they witnessed 124 00:07:24,560 --> 00:07:29,000 Speaker 2: their neighbors home being broken into by knife wielding teenagers. 125 00:07:29,080 --> 00:07:32,840 Speaker 2: By from what she'd said, unbelievable, just unbelievable. 126 00:07:32,840 --> 00:07:33,679 Speaker 1: But the thing that I've. 127 00:07:33,520 --> 00:07:35,520 Speaker 2: Noticed over the years as well is that real sort 128 00:07:35,520 --> 00:07:39,280 Speaker 2: of watering down when it comes to public housing and 129 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:42,680 Speaker 2: tenants doing the wrong thing. They're not being much ramification 130 00:07:42,960 --> 00:07:45,520 Speaker 2: to it. And that's the real belief from the public 131 00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:45,960 Speaker 2: as well. 132 00:07:46,280 --> 00:07:47,160 Speaker 1: You know, I worked for. 133 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:50,480 Speaker 2: The Housing Minister probably you know, nearly twenty years ago, 134 00:07:50,560 --> 00:07:53,800 Speaker 2: a bit less maybe fifteen years ago, and people were 135 00:07:53,920 --> 00:07:56,560 Speaker 2: still being evicted when they were doing the wrong thing. 136 00:07:56,720 --> 00:07:58,160 Speaker 1: And don't get me wrong. 137 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:01,360 Speaker 2: Fifteen years ago there was people and stuff just like this, 138 00:08:01,520 --> 00:08:04,160 Speaker 2: So it's not as if that behavior has changed, but 139 00:08:04,240 --> 00:08:08,960 Speaker 2: people were being evicted. There was a tougher stance than 140 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:11,560 Speaker 2: what there is now. And I don't know why it 141 00:08:11,640 --> 00:08:13,760 Speaker 2: all got watered down, but I feel like it has 142 00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:17,280 Speaker 2: been watered down over the last ten years and there 143 00:08:17,280 --> 00:08:19,640 Speaker 2: needs to be some change. You know, we are talking 144 00:08:19,680 --> 00:08:22,280 Speaker 2: about it's a privilege. It is not a right. It 145 00:08:22,360 --> 00:08:26,080 Speaker 2: is a privilege to have public housing. And there are 146 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:30,560 Speaker 2: weight lists that are so enormously long. Last year, I 147 00:08:30,640 --> 00:08:33,920 Speaker 2: believe i'd said that in some instances we're talking eight years, 148 00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:37,160 Speaker 2: eight and nine years on those public housing weight lists. 149 00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:39,920 Speaker 2: So we have to make sure that there is a 150 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:41,880 Speaker 2: ramification if you're doing the wrong thing.