NSW government rejects Inner West boarding house safety proposal

By DANIEL LO SURDO

Inner West mayor Darcy Byrne has said that a proposal to jointly review the safety of boarding houses in the wake of the March Newtown fire has been rejected by the NSW government.

Earlier this month, Inner West councillors unanimously supported a motion urgently requesting the NSW government to participate in a joint local and state review of boarding house management and regulations after a fire at a Probert Street boarding house in Newtown killed three people last month.

On Wednesday, Cr Byrne said that NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet had rejected the joint review of the “totally inadequate system of boarding house safety inspection”, adding that the Inner West couldn’t allow the tragedy to “be ignored or forgotten”.

Emergency safety orders issued to two other boarding houses before NSW government rejection

Council officers last week issued emergency safety orders to two other boarding houses owned by Albert Wong, who also held the Probert Street boarding house.

Cr Byrne said that “some health and safety matters related to electrics and building structure” were identified by officers, prompting the orders to be issued after inspecting three of Mr Wong’s properties.

Following the announcement of the failed joint review proposal on Wednesday, Cr Byrne said via Facebook that “the lives of vulnerable people aren’t valued enough by our society”, and that stronger safety regulations for boarding houses must be advocated for.

The NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet has been contacted by City Hub for comment.