Save Tenant Services volunteers will be out ‘n about again this weekend. If you’ll be near the Rocklea markets tomorrow, Sunday, call in to sign pollie letters protesting the de-funding of the tenant advice service. And sign our Christmas postcard to Campbell.
Author Archives: Lead Organiser
Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service to close at the end of the month
See this article in today’s Brisbane times and have your say at the bottom.
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/tenant-advice-and-advocacy-service-to-close-at-the-end-of-the-month-20131205-2yu09.html?#comments
More changes for Qld public housing tenants
Media statement from Housing Mininster Mander 3-12-13
No more gap year for public tenants
The Newman Government has moved to tighten up generous public housing rules that left properties vacant for up to a year while tenants took extended holidays or served prison terms.
Housing Minister Tim Mander said under Labor’s old rules, tenants could take getaways of up to 12 months without putting their tenancies at risk.
“These houses are there to house the most vulnerable members of society. They’re no good to anyone sitting there empty,” Mr Mander said.
“This Government promised to revitalise frontline services, something that’s particularly important when we’re dealing with families on low or modest incomes. Continue reading
(Roma) Tenant advocate campaigns to keep doors open
Why govt reasons for withdrawing tenant advice funding are wrong
The State government has responded to questions about the withdrawal of tenancy advice funding in a variety of ways since last year. The following outlines why these responses fail to negate the need to have independent tenant advice services in Queensland.
It’s a good program but we can’t afford it |
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It’s a duplication of what the Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) does |
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Community Legal Centres (CLCs) can pick up any unmet need when tenant advice services are no longer available |
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Debunking the duplication argument
The Housing Minister, Minister Mander, says that tenant advice services duplicate the role of the government’s Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA). But did you know that in the last year of state government funding the services spent 24,000 hours representing the interests of individual Queensland tenants to their landlords, real estate agents or in the tenancy tribunal?
Hands on front line work delivered in local communities across the state. Something that the impartial, Brisbane CBD based RTA does not and cannot do! Does that sound like duplication to you?
Where will those Queenslanders go for help after December 31?
Thank you West End volunteers and supporters!
If you missed us today at the West End markets, you can find us tomorrow at the Manly creative markets. Come and say hello. Oh, and please send this link to all your family and friends to help Save Tenant Services in Queensland http://bit.ly/ZmZE52
Look out for STS supporters at Brisbane markets this weekend……
Member for Blair advocates for Qld tenant advice services
Shayne Neumann MP, member for Blair made a speech in Parliament last night calling on the Federal government to support the Queensland tenant advice services. Read it here from Hansard.
Many concerns expressed at Mt Gravatt Markets
Why keeping services for tenants open is important – a radio interview!
In an interview with ABC local radio Southern Queensland the Tenants’ Union puts a strong argument about why tenants need and deserve access to independent advice services. We found this audio link on the TUQ website with the following correction:
“When Penny said there were 57 hours of advocacy in the last full year of funding, she meant to say 24,000 hours“.
Stock transfers and funding dilemmas
Sue Abel who works at the Tenants’ Union’s office in Roma talks on local radio about social housing stock transfers and funding dilemmas. Listen to the audio here.
Mornings with Belinda Sanders 8:30am – 11:00am
Wondering what to do? It just takes 30 seconds to help
Feel good about yourself by helping to save tenant services! Fill out your address on our ready made emails (click here) to our State politicians asking for re-funding of the services. And if you’ve done that already, then send it to 3 friends to do the same.
STS out and about
STS at the Rocklea markets in Brisbane last weekend – did you see us? Find out what you can do to help the campaign at http://bit.ly/ZmZE52
Send a letter to politicians
Send a message to the Premier (and Treasurer and Housing Minister) by simply inserting your name and email address here. (It takes less than 30 seconds!)