SA blocks sale of disability home Abbeyfield House after protest
Disability residents will stay in their home after the South Australian government withdrew plans to sell it.
Abbeyfield House, in Edwardstown in Adelaide's south, has been home to eight adults with intellectual disabilities — including Jacob Milbank, a beloved figure at the Adelaide Crows — for more than 15 years.
The home is owned by Marion City council, which sought consultation from the public about the proposed sale.
The council looked at selling the home to a disability-focused housing provider and sought to protect existing residents from being evicted.
Speaking live on FIVEAA radio this morning, SA Premier Peter Malinauskas said the state government will intervene to stop the sale, ensuring residents can stay.
'I'm very pleased to report to Jake and the other residents at Abbeyfield that we are going to intervene here and stop this sale from going ahead,' he told 5AA.
'We want to provide long-term certainty to those residents so they know they can continue to call their place home — which is what matters to anybody, let alone if you're diagnosed with an intellectual disability.'
5AA also spoke to Jacob Milbank, who has lived at Abbeyfield for 12 years and works three days a week as chief motivational officer with the Adelaide Crows.
'This is our house. I do cooking here, we do parties here — this is where I live,' he told 5AA.
'I'm just saying no way, no way Marion Council is selling. It's not fair for others. I've had anxiety attacks, I'm sick of it.'
On Tuesday, Upper house independent MLC Frank Pangello blamed the council's ambivalence towards the residents.
'It's council bureaucracy and indifference that is going to cause enormous stress and homelessness,' he told 7NEWS.
The campaign was launched on Change.org by Jan McConchie, whose son, Eddie, lives at Abbeyfield.
On Tuesday, Jan and the families of other residents delivered the petition to Pangallo on the steps of South Australian Parliament.
'This win means everything to our families,' McConchie said.
'We've seen our children grow and thrive together in this home for over 15 years. It's more than just a roof over their heads — it's safety, stability and love.
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