Dear, dear..! I read stories like this and despair (as a “houso”) at the naivity of ‘white” folk when dealing with gummint depts. especially, Housing ..! Folk don’t seem to realise that “Houso”, regardless of state, views “honesty” as a sign of weakness ( the come-in-spinner variety) ..
This sort of thing would never happen to an ethnic cos they understand the, unwritten, “rules” .. never, ever, voluntarily supply current updates unless all other options have exhausted ..
What this family should have dun was behave as tho nuttin’ was amiss by either paying her rent, as usual & dropping by once or twice a week to switch lights on/off and put the bin(s) out or move a rellie in whilst mum was in hospital ….. until a death certificate or notification she would be permanently domiciled in a nursing home she would have retained the tenancy .. Go to prison for 3 months and your still classed as the tenant (and on reduced rent .. LOL!) .. FFS!
It’s an unfortunate fact but honesty and, certain, gummint depts should never be mixed …
 
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-07-11/irene-dornan-aneurysm-recovery-social-housing-waitlist/104081364