NT Government Targets Rent Arrears and Antisocial Behavior in Public Housing

The Northern Territory government is taking decisive action to address the staggering $39 million in rent arrears owed by public housing tenants while accelerating evictions for those engaging in antisocial behavior. In a recent parliamentary session, NT Housing Minister Steve Edgington outlined a series of reforms aimed at ensuring accountability among tenants.

“Antisocial behavior and unpaid rent won’t be tolerated,” Edgington declared. “The time for excuses and rolling out the red carpet for repeat offenders is over.”

The alarming figures reveal that 1,422 public housing tenancies across the Northern Territory have each accrued debts exceeding $10,000, with the highest individual debt reaching $40,000. This comes in stark contrast to the previous Labor government’s decision to wipe nearly $70 million in debt owed by remote housing tenants in 2021, just months before increasing rents in remote communities and town camps.

With a public housing waitlist nearing 6,000 individuals and a homelessness rate that is 12 times the national average, Edgington emphasized the need for immediate action. He announced plans to bolster “pathways” to eviction and enhance the authority of public housing safety officers.

Additionally, the government intends to revise its “red card” policy to better address issues such as excessive rent debts, untidy yards, property damage, and persistent antisocial behavior.

“The CLP government is fully aware that antisocial behavior and serious incidents of crime in public housing have risen to an unacceptable level,” Edgington stated.

Gerard McGeough, chief executive of Victims of Crime NT, echoed these concerns, noting that reports of unlawful entries and thefts in public housing complexes are alarmingly common. “When we’ve supported victims, it’s been not just about disturbances in neighborhoods, but because people feel completely unsafe in their own communities,” he said.

As the government implements these reforms, the focus remains on creating safer living conditions for all residents while holding tenants accountable for their actions.