James Wragg is disgusted the Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service is closing down in Gladstone.(Brenda Strong GLACLOS)
Gladstone expressed concerns about the closure of the local tenant advice service soon after they were informed of the closure.
http://www.gladstoneobserver.com.au/story/2012/07/26/tenancy-service-funding-cut-penny-carr/
Interviewed on 4EB’s Fair Comment program the TUQ talks about the cuts to their funding and how they are working with others to seek reinstatement of the Program. Listen to the interview at http://soundcloud.com/fair-comment-show/fair-comment-podcast-thurs And they’re asking for your help!
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
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
Via Whitsunday Times
SHOCKWAVES are still running through the Whitsunday community after last week’s announcement that the Proserpine-based Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service (TAAS) will close at the end of next month.
Read the full article here
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
Via ABC Online:
A Queensland domestic violence service says victims seeking property advice will be left without an advocate due to funding cuts.
Domestic Violence Cairns currently refers people to the Tenancy Advice Service Queensland [TASQ] but the program will be cut by the State Government in late October.
Read full article here
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
It’s so stark when you see it in a graphic format – all the places where tenants will lose face to face and phone access to tenant advice services! On October 31 all these services will close and tenants will only be able to get information – not advice – by calling the RTA in Brisbane. If you’re concerned please write, email or call your local MP, the Housing Minister and the Premier today!
Today the Atherton tenant advice service is in the news. They’ve expressed grave concerns for tenants in the area once the service shuts in October. See the coverage at http://bit.ly/MTK09J
The Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service (TAAS) in West End was featured on the ABC TV’s 7.30 Queensland on Friday August 10 as part of a review of government cuts affecting the Queensland community services sector. View it here.
TAAS worker Joe Hurley highlighted how the program assists people to remain in private rental market housing, reducing demand for social housing. Coverage also showed the reach of the TAAS program to many people on low incomes living in marginal housing.
In a follow up interview, the Queensland Treasurer Tim Nicholls discussed the withdrawal of funding to the TAAS program. He stated that the vast majority of advice is provided by the Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) which supplies three times as much advice as the combined efforts of all the smaller groups (meaning the TUQ and local tenant advice services). See the interview here.
There are two key inaccuracies in what the Treasurer has said that need to be corrected. Continue reading
Sarah Addo must be wondering where she would have gone for assistance if her tenancy problems occurred after October 31 this year. That’s the date when the TU’s North Queensland (TUNQ) office will be shut along with all other tenant advice services across the state unless the Queensland government reverses its decision to cut funding.
The TUNQ helped Sarah to stand up against her landlord who tried to evict her for asking for repairs. Read Sarah’s story………. http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2012/08/09/3564427.htm
The Queensland Law Society (the Society) today expressed concerns regarding funding cuts to the Tenants’ Union of Queensland (TUQ).
In a press release (see here) the Society said the government’s decision to reduce the funding of the TUQ will likely put more pressure on struggling community legal centres (CLCs).
Society president Dr John de Groot said The Tenants’ Union, itself a CLC, looks after a complex and niche area of law, providing advice on tenancy issues to people in need, particularly those on the brink of homelessness. Continue reading