However, the States would have to accept changes to the current Housing laws so that from next year the Housing Minister would not have sole decision making authority over people’s rights to housing.
During a scrutiny panel hearing yesterday afternoon, Deputy Judy Martin suggested that the proposals within the new Migration Policy would not be compliant with Human Rights obligations.
She said people facing the loss of their employment status could also lose their rights to occupy their home and argued it was not right for a single person in the shape of the Housing Minister to hear hardship cases.
‘At the moment there are at least six or seven members of the Housing Committee.
It is not right one person should have this discretionary power.
This needs to be changed,’ she said.
However, Policy and Resources Committee president Senator Frank Walker told the panel that it was up to any States Member to put together proposals to amend the Housing laws and take them to the States.
Meanwhile, Senator Walker told the panel that the proposed new immigration law meets all legal obligations of the European Human Rights laws.
