Press Release THURSDAY 4 APRIL 2013
OFFICE OF THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION

Newman Government Grandstanding On Existing Public Housing Policy

 Shadow Housing Minister Jo-Ann Miller says the Newman Government’s “three-strikes and you’re out” public housing policy is a rehash of existing procedures but takes away tenants’ appeal rights.

 “Bad tenants should not be tolerated in public or private housing under any circumstance, but the existing rules allow for serious offenders to be evicted after just ‘one strike’ with others liable to be shown the door after ‘three strikes’ in one year,” Mrs Miller said.

 “There are no details yet of the Newman Government’s approach especially whether it is based on a WA model that does not allow a tenant to appeal a ‘strike’ notice or enter mediation, where the current Queensland model does.

 “This is another example of the Newman Government demonising disadvantaged Queenslanders and taking rights away from tenants who may already be in a position where they are unable to defend themselves.

 “On top of this, the Newman Government has scrapped funding to more than 20 Tenant Advocacy and Advice Services (TAAS) across the state supported by the Tenants’ Union of Queensland. “Without TAAS tenants have no access to information and advice on how to better understand their rights and responsibilities under Queensland laws.

 “The Newman Government is making it impossible for tenants in Queensland to access services and advice about doing the right thing.

 “A better approach by the Newman Government would be to use the administrative costs associated with this ‘new’ policy to fund TAAS into the future.”

 Mrs Miller said the federal government provided $3.3 million in emergency funding in October to ensure TAAS offices stayed open after the savage cut to funding imposed in July by the LNP.

“The Newman Government must reinstate funding to ensure more than 20 TAAS offices across Queensland keep their doors open beyond June 30,” she said.

“The administrative costs associated with this “new” policy would be better spent ensuring tenants are aware of their rights and responsibilities when they go into public housing and provide methods of mediation to ensure that all parties are supported.

 “Today’s announcement is another blow in a sustained attack on public housing tenants by the Newman Government.

 “In the first few months of the Newman Government we saw the shock and fear that the Government instilled in public housing tenants with the threats to move them on to smaller houses or charged them extra.

“We have also seen the Newman Government threat to sell three government owned caravan parks.”