{"id":26544,"date":"2026-06-15T12:32:11","date_gmt":"2026-06-15T12:32:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.joshteague.com.au\/?p=26544"},"modified":"2026-08-11T14:02:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T14:02:10","slug":"labors-cost-excuse-doesnt-add-up-12","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.joshteague.com.au\/index.php\/2026\/06\/15\/labors-cost-excuse-doesnt-add-up-12\/","title":{"rendered":"Labor must act on housing trust crime surge"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Labor must act on housing trust crime surge<\/span> <\/h1> <\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\r\n\t\t<\/section>\r\n\t\t\t\t
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Police are being called to a Novar Gardens housing complex once every two days, as the Malinauskas Labor Government continues to let unruly housing trust tenants run rampant. <\/p>\n

Data obtained by the State Liberals under Freedom of Information shows police were called to the Marsh Court complex 69 times between January 1 and  May 6 this year \u2013 an average of once every 1.8 days. <\/p>\n

The reasons for the police visits included five reports of trespass, three reports of theft, 10 domestic violence incidents, two reports of assault and two reports of property damage. <\/p>\n

Shadow Minister for Housing Josh Teague said the figures highlighted the ongoing failure of the Malinauskas Labor Government to tackle anti-social and criminal behaviour in public housing. <\/p>\n

\u201cThese figures are deeply concerning and demonstrate the impact that a small number of disruptive tenants can have on an entire neighbourhood,\u201d Mr Teague said. <\/p>\n

\u201cNo tenant should have to live in fear in their own home, yet police are being called to this complex every second day. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe overwhelming majority of Housing Trust tenants do the right thing, but Labor has allowed repeat offenders to make life miserable for their neighbours and surrounding residents. <\/p>\n

\u201cSouth Australians deserve safe and secure public housing, and these figures show there is still a long way to go.\u201d <\/p>\n

The State Liberals have previously called for a range of measures to improve safety for public housing tenants, including: <\/p>\n

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    Ensuring public homes are tested for methamphetamine at change of vacancy <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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      Establishing a safety fund of $20m over four years for those SAHT tenants who need extra protection, for items such as CCTV and screens <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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        Not allowing tenants who have been evicted for anti-social behaviour to return to public housing, unless they repay any damage they have caused <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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          Ensuring the three-strike warning system does not reset after six months <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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            Extending safety patrols to SAHT sites where there is regular anti-social behaviour <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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              Providing regular on-site SAHT staff at sites where there has been entrenched anti-social behaviour <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\r\n\t\t<\/section>\r\n\t\t\t\t

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              Police\u00a0are being\u00a0called to a Novar Gardens housing complex\u00a0once every two days, as the Malinauskas Labor Government\u00a0continues to\u00a0let unruly\u00a0housing trust\u00a0tenants run rampant.\u00a0<\/p>

              Data obtained by the State Liberals under Freedom of Information shows police were called to the Marsh Court complex 69 times between January\u00a01 and\u00a0 May 6 this year\u00a0\u2013\u00a0an average of once every 1.8 days.\u00a0<\/p>

              The reasons for the police visits included five reports of trespass, three reports of theft, 10 domestic violence incidents, two\u00a0reports of\u00a0assault and two reports of property damage.\u00a0<\/p>

              Shadow Minister for Housing Josh Teague said the figures highlighted the ongoing failure of the Malinauskas Labor Government to tackle anti-social and criminal behaviour in public housing.\u00a0<\/p>

              \u201cThese figures are deeply concerning and demonstrate the impact that a small number of disruptive tenants can have on an entire\u00a0neighbourhood,\u201d\u00a0Mr Teague said.\u00a0<\/p>

              \u201cNo tenant should have to live in fear in their own home, yet police are being called to this complex every second day.\u00a0<\/p>

              \u201cThe overwhelming majority of Housing Trust tenants do the right thing, but Labor has allowed repeat offenders to make life miserable for their neighbours and surrounding residents.\u00a0<\/p>

              \u201cSouth Australians deserve safe and secure public housing, and these figures show there is still a long way to go.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>

              The State Liberals have previously called for a range of measures to improve safety for public housing tenants, including:\u00a0<\/p>

              • Ensuring\u00a0public homes are tested for methamphetamine at change of vacancy\u00a0<\/p><\/li><\/ul>

                • Establishing\u00a0a safety fund of $20m over four years for those SAHT tenants who need extra protection, for items such as CCTV and screens\u00a0<\/p><\/li><\/ul>

                  • Not allowing\u00a0tenants who have been evicted for anti-social behaviour to return to public housing, unless they repay any damage they have caused\u00a0<\/p><\/li><\/ul>

                    • Ensuring\u00a0the three-strike warning system does not reset after six months\u00a0<\/p><\/li><\/ul>

                      • Extending\u00a0safety patrols to SAHT sites where there is regular anti-social behaviour\u00a0<\/p><\/li><\/ul>

                        • Providing\u00a0regular on-site SAHT staff at sites where there has been entrenched anti-social behaviour\u00a0<\/p><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\r\n\t\t<\/section>\r\n\t\t\t\t

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                          No tenant should have to live in fear in their own home, yet police are being called to this complex every second day.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\r\n\t\t<\/section>\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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