Why has it taken so long for authorities to take Housing Trust concerns seriously?
The new-found concern from the government about the Housing Trust tenant problem is at least 10 years too late, writes Mike Smithson.
Powerful and disturbing images are often the only way that authorities get the message and get off their backsides.
What has long been an inconvenient truth now has the attention of the Premier, the Housing Minister, a prominent local MP, a government department, the local council, a dedicated housing officer and a security company.
Early last week, the evening peace was shattered in upmarket Gilberton with the horrific stabbing death of a man in a notorious Housing Trust block.
Moments later, the same alleged offender was involved in a violent home invasion at the adjacent residence of well-known television personality Jan Beasley and her husband John.
The female intruder, now charged with murdering innocent and vulnerable tenant Andrew Sorby-Adams, also caused damage and terror inside the Beasley family home as five police officers eventually subdued, arrested and detained her.
The Beasleys were left with a shattered family room door, blood-stained carpet and similar damage to their furniture, which now requires replacement.
The wheels of government and the Housing Trust have moved quickly since then, following the alarm and dismay expressed by the Beasleys and other law-abiding citizens who anxiously live near and in the problem-ridden Bentzen Court.
The Beasleys have just been emailed with a raft of measures to make a bad situation slightly better.
As a personal declaration, my wife and I have been close friends with John and Jan Beasley for almost 30 years.
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They’re a generous-spirited couple, who, along with others, have forged friendships with their Trust neighbours, including the recent victim Andrew.
Their shock is for the victim’s family and friends as well.
But for the past decade, at least, they’ve been increasingly reporting issues with problem tenants and unsavoury visitors at all times of the day and night.
They’ve put up with ongoing property damage and risk to themselves and their home.
They’ve had the police on speed dial for just as long as each series of unpleasant events unfolds within metres of their living area and rear yard.
As the years have rolled around and everyone from paroled criminals to drug addicts is conveniently slotted into any vacant flat at Bentzen Court, problems have been largely swept under the mat.
There have been scarce, genuine attempts to fix the escalating problems that the Beasleys and others didn’t ask for, want or deserve.
Adelaide MP Lucy Hood has just informed the Beasleys that, as an immediate response, 24/7 security is now in place at Bentzen Court for a minimum of two weeks and will be extended if necessary.
“In addition, twice weekly yard clean-ups will be implemented to help improve the amenity of the area,” she said.
“Today the Housing Trust will attend the site to assess the interface with neighbouring properties and identify opportunities to improve security.
“This will include consideration of CCTV installation”
Some vacant units are currently sitting at Bentzen Court, but they’re not going to be filled with the usual tenants who’ve come and gone in the recent past.
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“The immediate allocation of these properties has now been paused while a review of tenant selection is undertaken,” Hood said.
“A dedicated housing officer has also been appointed for Bentzen Court and will be onsite today to speak directly with tenants and hear any concerns firsthand.”
Perhaps that same officer can speak directly to the Beasleys to hear of their ongoing concerns and observations firsthand as well.
This new-found care and concern from the government has been at least 10 years too late and is unlikely to address the core issue.
Public Housing, such as Bentzen Court and nearby Mellor Court, was part of the Dunstan-era vision to integrate varying socio-economic and diverse people into the inner metro area back in the early 1970s.
By their nature, these basic structures were designed to house lower-income people and pensioners.
Even the government concedes they’ve now evolved into halfway houses for drifters, drug addicts and those straight out of jail.
Similar public housing stories of anti-social, criminal and violent behaviour right across Adelaide are a daily dialogue on most talkback radio programs.
There is no quick fix, but the questions remain: why has it taken so long for authorities to take concerns seriously and act?
And will this so-called remedial action be relatively short-lived and evaporate once the media attention passes by?
Housing and Urban Development Minister Nick Champion has made the observation that many Trust tenants aren’t appropriate for suburban settings.
“So, we’ve got to either have the right sort of housing with wraparound services, or we’ve got to have good people,” he told radio FIVEaa.
“That will be a challenge going forward.
“There are people who would be good tenants, who are sleeping in cars or stuck in unaffordable rentals.”
So, is this cold comfort or a new dawn for the Beasleys and many other residents who are way beyond fed up with insufficient action or inaction in the past?
The acid test will come in a few months when the full-time security might have disappeared for cost reasons, and no other accommodation is available.
Another incident could just reset the ticking time bomb, back to the future, and we’ll know for sure that real solutions are just an illusion.
Stay tuned, because I certainly will be.
Mike Smithson is weekend presenter and political analyst for 7News.
