Author Archives: Lead Organiser

Where will Gympie tenants go for advice?

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Back: Judy Brauer, Lee Prince, Donna Weaver, and Karen Winkel. Front: Tanya Easterby, Leonie Hempsall, Sue Deacon, Cyd Kelly, Kellie Stirton, Cynthia Less-Smith, Maria Toms and Sue Wade (Renee Pilcher)

Like many other regions, Gympie residents were perplexed by the decision to cut the local Tenant Advice and Advocacy service. http://www.gympietimes.com.au/story/2012/07/28/newman-axe-cuts-deeply-community-worker-support/

Lessons from New South Wales

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In the late 1980s the then New South Wales government cut funding to tenant advice service in that state.  Inevitably the services were refunded some time later but not without the loss of experienced workers and corporate knowledge.  Let’s not repeat that history in Queensland. Robert Mowbray of the Older Person’s Tenants Services NSW fills us in. 

There is light at the end of the tunnel
Tenants’ advice and advocacy services in New South Wales go back to 1910 when the NSW Rent Payers Association operated an advisory service for inner Sydney tenants. They were first fully funded across New South Wales from 1 January 1986 after successful lobbying by community organisations coordinated by the Tenants Union of NSW.

However, between 1989 and 1994 they were defunded1, despite these being the first five years of reform legislation in New South Wales. These were the dark years. Continue reading →

Community legal service ‘in crisis’

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Via The Wire – Independent current affairs from community radio around Australia

The nation’s community legal service is stretched and unable to meet a growing demand for services due to decades of underfunding. This is according latest survey released by the Australian Council of Social Service revealed today that 73% of legal service providers could not meet client demand. ACOSS says this is greatly affecting some of the most disadvantaged members of the Australian community. Many legal centers in Queensland and Victoria have experienced further budget cuts this year.

Listen to the broadcast here

Loss of Tenant Advocacy Services in QLD endangers people with disabilities

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Via Pro Bono Australia:

QUI Executive Director, Ken Wade says the Housing Minister Dr Bruce Flegg announced the termination last week, and services are expected to cease operation from Wednesday 31 October 2012.

“Services all over the Queensland provide advocacy to people with high and complex needs, especially those in danger of losing their housing.

“The Tenancy Advice and Advocacy services are especially important to the thousands of people with disabilities living in Brisbane’s boarding houses and hostels,” Wade said.

“The Inner North and Inner South Brisbane tenancy advice services provide assistance and advice to many people with disabilities – people who may have an intellectual disability, cognitive disorders or mental health issues and who are often one step away from the streets.

Read full article here

Warning homeless numbers to rise

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Via Qld Times:

STAFF and supporters of the Ipswich Tenancy Advice and Advocacy Service are pleading with the State Government to reconsider its decision to cut funding from October 31.

“We believe that homelessness will double because we won’t be here to sustain tenants in private rentals,” Ms Lewis said.

“We will be the only state without a tenancy service.”

Read article here