Did you see our cinema ad?

The following cinema advertisement was produced by Save Tenant Services last year, before the Commonwealth stepped in with emergency funding.  Some of our supporters will have seen it before but many will not.  We thought we’d replay it.  Remember,the emergency funding for the TUQ and 22 local tenant advice services runs out at the end of June.  If you have time, please help our campaign to secure on-going monies, here’s some suggestions how.

Call to action – message from a supporter

Tenants'rightsWe call on all concerned community members including Queensland’s 1.5 million tenants to act on the issue of funding for the Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service (TAASQ) Program.  Please contact your local MP to insist that funding certainty is restored to these independent and important services and tenants’re-gain benefit from their bond interest through re-instating TAASQ.  This is a Call to Action – we don’t just need you to take an interest but we need you to act as quickly as possible please!

  1. Contact your local MP and complain
  2. Send a letter – templates are available here
  3. Ring a radio station
  4. Write on a blog
  5. Write to a letter to an editor

In mid 2012, the new Queensland government was talking about the need for effective and efficient community services; front line services that did not burden the taxpayer. On July 24, then Minister for Housing and Public Works, Dr Bruce Flegg, announced that the long standing TAASQ Program would be discontinued.

Media reporting on public service cuts seemed to divert attention from some pertinent facts regarding this decision; one that has widespread significance for the one third, or 500,000, of Queensland households who rent their homes.

The TAASQ Program funds 23 services spread throughout the state where tenants can receive assistance (either face to face or on the phone, depending on their needs) to understand rights and obligations and to help preventing and dealing with disputes.  Many interventions by TAASs resolve situations where tenants would otherwise end up homeless, but they also help tenants to get their bond money back and defend unreasonable (often monetary) claims against them.  Continue reading

On FB? Call on pollies to reinstate our funding before June 30

Tenancy advicesDid you know that the Premier,Treasurer and the Housing Minister all have Facebook pages? If you have time, please ask them about refunding our services or about what tenants will do if they do not have access to free, independent and high quality advice and support.

http://www.facebook.com/TimManderMpEverton http://www.facebook.com/TimNichollsMP http://www.facebook.com/campbell.newman

The next few weeks will be critical for our services and the re-funding campaign. There’s a little bit about us here if you would like to read up.

Thank you for your support and happy holiday season

Save Tenant Services wishes our supporters, your family and friends a very happy and safe holiday season.  And we hope you get a break from all the challenges of life and find someone to share a laugh with.

Thank you so much for your support – without it, our services would no longer exist.  And thanks to you, tenancy advice is available for Queensland tenants every day throughout the holidays except for the weekends and public holidays.

New Minister responds to tenant advice funding cut

Late last month new Housing Minister Tim Mander responded to the parliamentary e-petition regarding the funding cut to the Tenant Advice and Advocacy Program.  In what is the first public statement we’ve seen the new Minister make, he reiterates the claims of the previous Minister.  At least, however, he continues to express the value of the TAAS sector.

Below is what he had to say  (or read it from the website here).  (Read the e-petition here)
November 22
Mr Neil Laurie
The Clerk of the Parliament
Parliament House
George Street
Brisbane Qld 4000

 Dear Mr Laurie

Thank you for your letter of 1 November 2012 to former Minister Bruce Flegg MP regarding petition 1951-12 which raises concerns about the cessation of funding to the Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service (Queensland) (TAASQ). As you would be aware, I have recently been sworn in as the Minister for Housing and Public Works.

The Federal Government has recently announced that it will fund the continuation of the service until the end of June 2013. The Queensland Government has welcomed this decision as TAASQ is recognised as a valuable service. We would also welcome increased funding from the Federal Government to help provide more affordable housing.

The government’s decision to cease funding for TAASQ was one of a number of difficult decisions that has had to be made. Unfortunately, the former government left Queensland with a debt heading towards $100 billion by 2018-19, and a public housing system with no money to build houses.

With around 25 000 families on the Housing Register waiting for social housing assistance, the primary focus has to be on the core business of putting a roof over people’s heads. The money saved from TAASQ is being directed towards providing more houses for Queenslanders. The government is committed to addressing the public housing crisis.

I trust this information addresses your enquiry. If I can be of assistance with other matters within my portfolio, please do not hesitate to contact my office on telephone 07 3237 1832.

Yours sincerely
Tim Mander MP
Minister for Housing and Public Works

Queensland tenancy laws to be reviewed

The RTA is conducting a targeted review of the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008 (the Act) to ensure it’s meeting its objectives of fairly balancing stakeholder interests as well as removing legislative barriers to improved service delivery. (Picture from RTA website)

Last Thursday the Residential Tenancies Authority announced a review of tenancy laws in Queensland.  The first round of submissions are due in on January 2, 2013.  To read more about the review click here.

Eviction research launched tomorrow by the Tenants’ Union of Queensland

The Tenants’ Union of Queensland’s Exploring the Private Rental Market forum is on tomorrow afternoon in Brisbane.  The State Housing Minister, Bruce Flegg, will open the fringe festival event at 1pm at the South Brisbane Institute of Technology.

Also at the event, Mr Magnus Hammar from the International Union of Tenants in Sweden will officially launch a report on evictions by the Tenants’ Union of Queensland.

International Union Of Tenants Secretary General arrives

International Union of Tenants

Mr Magnus Hammar, Secretary General arrives today from Sweden.  Whilst in Brisbane, Mr Hammar will speak at a forum organised by the Tenants’ Union of Queensland, ‘Exploring the Private Rental Market’ on October 30.Later in the week he delivers a keynote address to the National Housing Conference in Brisbane.  Click here to go the National Housing Conference website.

October 31, not a good day for Queensland tenants

October 31 = withdrawal of funding by the state Minister for Housing (Minister Flegg) for the entire 23 organisations funded by the Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service program (even though the funds come mainly from tenant bond interest).

October 31 = the state Minister for Housing (Minister Flegg) opens the National Housing Conference at 8.30am at the Brisbane Convention Centre.

October 31 = the last day that Residential Tenancies Authority tenancy forms will be available at Australia Post Offices in Queensland.

October 31 = the last day tenants will be able to lodge or claim a residential tenancy bond at Australia Post Offices in Queensland.