Carey calls for Safe Night Space review

Planning Minister John Carey has stepped in to call for a ministerial review over the Safe Night Space shelter operation, initially a collaboration between City of Perth and Ruah.

Mr Carey today announced he has called in the State Administrative Tribunal application for review of the conditions imposed on the Safe Night Space relocation approval.

The women's shelter program will operate at Ruah Community Services' drop-in centre on James Street for 30 months, after City of Perth council approved the organisation's application last month.

The approval came with a series of conditions including having security on site at all times, and for Ruah to have city-approved operational management and waste management plans.

Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas suggested the conditions at the council meeting, saying there had been concerns from the community over anti-social behaviour in Northbridge.

Ruah has appealed the conditions, submitting an application with SAT to review the city's approval.

At the time, Mr Carey said it was not appropriate for the Planning Minister to comment on an active planning matter that is before the SAT.

However, Mr Carey today announced he decided to call in the SAT review for ministerial determination.

“As Planning Minister, I have made the decision to call in the review of approval conditions for the Safe Night Space for ministerial determination under the Planning and Development Act 2005," he said.

“I have been advised that I do not, in these circumstances, have a conflict of interest in this matter.

“However, I also consider that there is a minor risk of a perception of conflict of interest and have asked that authority to consider and determine this review application be transferred to Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson.”

Ruah, in partnership with the city, operated the Safe Night Space program at Rod Evans centre in East Perth from May 2021 until November 2023.

Homelessness advocacy groups criticised the program's closure and urged the city to extend the shelter.

However, Mr Zempilas said the Safe Night Space was only meant to be a two-year trial with the Rod Evans centre to be returned to community use after the program.

Mr Carey previously claimed there has been an unprecedented campaign by the city against Ruah.

In 2022, the council refused Ruah’s application to relocate to James Street from its outreach centre in Shenton Street.

The outreach centre was to be demolished to make way for a seven-storey Centre for Women and Children.

Then-planning minister Rita Saffioti overruled the council and gave Ruah approval to move into the second-storey James Street building.