Unbalanced debates lead to an unbalanced market

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So the REIQ are discussing new property management laws with the government (read here).
At the end of the year, the Tenants’ Union of Queensland has been told it will lose its funding to engage in housing policy and law reform work with which it represents the interests of tenants in these processes. Cutting their funds will seriously impede the Tenants’ Union ability to do so.

With both a tenancy law and now property management legislative review upcoming, the government should rethink the withdrawal of the policy funding and ensure these law reform debates are even sided. Uneven debates lead to an unbalanced industry which benefits no one – definitely not tenants, but neither will it benefit fair minded landlords or agents.

Was the letter from your MP, the Minister and Premier trite?

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Dear minister letter image

Please give me some real answers or re establish a tenant advice program!

Did you get a letter or email from the Premier, Housing Minister or you local MP which you thought didn’t address your concerns about tenant advice funding cuts?We’re asking you to write back again challenging some of the trite statements.  And because we know you’re busy, we’ve put together a few dot points which might help you. Click here to see.

No voice for community services sector?

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David Crosbie, CEO Community Council of Australia, writes an interesting opinion piece in today’s Courier Mail about Not for Profit organisations lack of voice for.  Two notable quotes which ring true for the tenant advice sector:  

“The major concern is not so much the reduction in funding, but the lack of a clear rationale for what is cut and what is not”.  

“The ignorant cuts of governments seeking short-term savings are deplorable. The undermining of the NFP sector and its capacity to advocate is even more concerning”. 

To read the whole piece click here

 

 

 

Qld Senator Claire Moore speaks out for tenant advice services

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On September 18, Queensland Senator Claire Moore made a speech to the Australian Senale about the funding cuts to the Tenant Advice and Advocacy Program.  The following is an extract from Hansard.

The Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service offers very important practical services for people involved in rental housing in Queensland. Its services include assisting private rental tenants, public housing tenants, future tenants and members of the general community to understand the rules about being in rented accommodation; to gain confidence to work with the legislation, which is the basis of the process; to help people by assisting them with information and preparation for the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal hearings. It is always a stressful time when you are placed in that kind of situation, but TAAS was there to provide that support and information. Continue reading →

Comments on ‘Life Matters’ piece

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Following on from the piece on ABC Radio National’s Life Matters yesterday with the Queensland Housing Minister and the Tenants’ Union of Queensland’s Coordinator, there have been some interesting comments made on the website.  Like this one from LEO PR :

18 Sep 2012 4:26:52pm
Yes, and as more people rent, and rents go up, the money available for the RTA to invest and spend on the TAAS’s actually went up.

The RTA had a surplus of $10.8 million last financial year. That is, they had $580 million to invest, they achieved a 7.9% ROI (1.9% above what they had budgeted for), for a $45.9m income. They spent $35m, including $4.6m on the TAAS’s (including the TUQ’s 300k). Figures are rounded.

If they had wished, they could have doubled the funding to TAAS’s and still retained an operating surplus

To read more comments, make one or listen to the audio, go to this link.

RTA to withdraw forms from Australia Post outlets

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The Residential Tenancies Authority has started advertising their withdrawal of access to tenancy forms and bond transactions from Australia Post outlets. Access is being withdrawn on the very same day that the entire network of tenant advice services statewide is officially defunded – October 31. From that day, any tenants who don’t have a printer or computer in order to download forms, will have to call the RTA to send them out. Timing is of the essence in most tenancy disputes, some tenants simply won’t have timely access to forms.

Government aims to silence tenants by new axing?

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Queensland will have no funded tenant advocate by the end of the year after government cuts seem aimed at silencing tenants.
Funds for the Tenants’ Union of Queensland (TUQ) to engage in  tenancy law and social housing policy debates were been completely cut in last Tuesday’s state budget.   At the same time, the government is launching a review of both tenancy law and social housing entitlements.

In July, the  government provided three months’ notice of funding cessation to the local/regional tenant advice services across the state, and now funding has been withdrawn for all systemic advocacy and representation of tenants’ interests.

The majority of funds for these services come from the interest generated on tenants’ bonds. Continue reading →