Click here to read the article and leave your comment at the end.
Housing Minister Bruce Flegg and Premier Campbell Newman continue to cut spending on public housing. Picture: Mark Calleja Source: The Courier-Mail
On September 6, the Federal Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Brendan O’Connor, opened the National Housing Conference in Melbourne. In his opening address he commented that funding cuts to the Tenant Advice and Advocacy Services in Queensland was not helping to reduce homelessness. See the post here from the Australian newspaper. Continue reading
In this article journalist Sharona Coutts from the Global Mail reviews cuts made by the Newman government. Ten issues are canvassed including those made to the Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service program. Coordinator of the Tenants’ Union of Queensland, Penny Carr, is interviewed. Click here to read the article.
Wynnum renters, including those in caravan parks, fear for the loss of their local tenant advice service. (Wynnum Herald 5-9-12)
Click here to read the article on page 4.
Hot of the press, a Tenants’ Union client expresses her alarm a the discontinuation of funding for tenant advice services. Reprinted from the Quest’s Westside News.
Is it really a government priority to redirect all monies available into the expansion of social housing?
‘Putting a roof over people’s heads’, expanding social housing and reducing the 30,000 household waitlist is the rationale expressed by the Minister for Housing when he cut funding to all 23 Tenant Advice and Advocacy Services across the state and reallocated $5M of tenant bond interest money.
However, has this government applied this priority across portfolios?
A supporter has asked for her conversation with the Housing Minister’s office about tenant advice funding to be posted here. The emails have been cut and pasted to make them show in conversational rather than emailed order. Continue reading
The Premier did talkback on local ABC station 612 with Steve Austin this morning. He go two questions about the discontinuation of the Tenant Advice and Advocacy Program but we’re not sure he actually answered the questions. See for yourself.
To listen, click on the link below Press play and drag circle inside the player timer to 10.15. This is where the first of the two back to back questions start.
Listen here 
Misinformed and somewhat offensive, Central Brisbane MP Robert Cavallucci talks about how the attitude of ‘unless the government pays for it, a service won’t be provided to the community’ is why the Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service (TAAS) program had to be cut. He must be completely unaware that TAAS is funded mainly from the interest generated on tenants’ bonds. This money in now being appropriated by government for its own purposes. See his comments in this hot off the press article in Village News New Farm Fortitude Valley. To read the article click here, then head to page 3 or the publication.
The Mackay/Whitsunday region shared concerns over the loss of their tenant advice service as well as the social housing Tenant Participation program. Read the article here
A Toowoomba real estate agent didn’t think it was so bad that tenant advice services were being slashed when the decision was made in July (read the article here) .
Unfortunately for tenants, the services of the Residential Tenancies Authority are just not the same, something which was apparent to the local resident who commented on the story. And without advocates the whole industry will become unbalanced.
Interesting to note as well, the local MP quoted, Trevor Watts, was the one who responded to a letter outlining concerns about the loss of the tenant advice program with, ‘I would like to acknowledge and thank you for your correspondence regarding TAASQ, dated August 1’. Nothing more, nothing less. Let’s hope some local residents have been meeting with him to explain the importance of our services.
We missed this coverage when it first went out. Toowoomba joins in the universal concerns being expressed at the loss of tenant advice services. This report is from their local newspaper, the Chronicle.
Click here to read the article.
This was such a good comment from Mary S but it was buried down the list of articles on our website so we thought we would put it up as a post. These are Mary’s comments: Continue reading
On the Day of Action, the TUQ Coordinator, Ms Penny Carr was interviewed in detail on 4ZZZ’s Brisbane line. She discusses, amongst other things, the differences between tenant advice services and the Residential Tenancies Authority as well as fears that she shares with the industry that the tenancy tribunal will become clogged up when tenants do not have access to advice services.
We thought it was worth showing this map again. It’s graphic! 
This is where tenants won’t be able to go after October 31 to get advice on things like what the terms of their agreements mean, how to understand their (complex) rent ledgers and receipts, where to get assistance to prepare for a hearing in QCAT or advice on whether demands by their landlord or agent are reasonable or lawful. These dots also represent places where the Residential Tenancies Authority won’t be able to refer tenants to after Oct 31 (like they do now) unless the government reinstates the program!
Continue reading to see the full size map. Continue reading
