On Thursday the Courier Mail reported that ex Housing Minister Flegg will not get referred to the Ethics Committee because there is not enough evidence that he knew that the lobbyist register was incorrect. Read the article here.
Tag Archives: qldpol
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
Tipping the scales in housing court
(from NYT) Maxwell Holyoke-Hirsch
There’s an interesting opinion piece in Thursday’s New York Times looking at the lack of legal representation for tenants in evictions proceedings. In Queensland, we generally don’t allow lawyers in the tenancy tribunal but the principle of unrepresented tenants still applies. If we don’t win the longer term campaign to get tenant advice services refunded we might see the emergence of some of the poor practices referred to in this piece.
Read the New York Times piece, Tipping the Scales in Housing Court here.
Tenancy law review Q#3 – bond interest for tenant services!
Given the recent de-funding of the tenant advice services and the current review of tenancy laws, maybe we should recommend the law requires the Minister to provide a percentage of tenant bond interest to independent tenant advisory services for tenants!! This would protect tenants access to tailored advise services in perpetuity.
Australian tenancy laws – relatively weak
Earlier this month, Mr Magnus Hammar, Secretary General at the International Union of Tenants (based in Sweden) spoke at the National Housing Conference in Brisbane.
In one of his talks he looks at the rental situation in Australia and Europe and highlights the relatively weak tenancy protections offered in Australian jurisdictions.
To see an overview of Mr Hammar’s presentation click here.
What’s fair notice?
Do you know how much notice tenants are generally required to be given when the lessor/agent or a contractor want to enter to carry out repairs or maintenance or to show the property to a prospective purchaser or tenant?
How much notice do you think is fair? Let us know by making a comment here or you can write and tell the Residential Tenancies Authority during their review of the Act. We’ll post again soon and let you know the current situation, in case you’re not sure.
Read the RTA’s Discussion Paper by clicking here.
POST SCRIPT What the law says is that for entries to show prospective purchasers or tenants or to carry out repairs or maintenance tenants must be provided with 24 hours notice in writing on a Form 9 Entry Notice (unless the tenant otherwise agrees). This is a very short timeframe made worse by the following. Because the time is epressed in hours not days or weeks, the RTA says that if the notice is hand delivered the time starts counting immediately. That means, if an agent or owner hand delivers an entry notice to your letterbox after you’ve picked up your mail on that day, you might not see it until a short time before the etnry is due. That seems unreasonable to us. In these circumstances 48 hours might be more reasonable.
What’s your beef?
Don’t forget, if you have a beef with anything in tenancy laws, there is an opportunity to raisie it now. The Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) is currently consulting on a review of tenancy law . Whilst there is a discussion paper, you can still raise any issues you think important but you must do so by January 2!!
https://www.rta.qld.gov.au/About-the-RTA/Legislation/Review-of-the-RTRA-Act
Tenancy law review Q#2 – Bonds
In early November, the Residential Tenancies Authority announced a ‘targeted’ review of Queensland tenancy laws and released a public Discussion Paper to which responses are due by January 2.
As we noted soon after, we’re going to ask your views about some of the topics in the Discussion paper. This is our second question and it’s about bonds.
Do you think the maximum amount of bond should be increased?
The RTA’s Discussion paper canvasses the option of increasing the maximum amount of bond allowed to be taken from tenants in general tenancies (units, apartments, houses etc). Currently the maximum bond is the equivalent of four weeks’ worth of rent.(unless the property rent is more than $700 per week and then it’s unlimited). The paper proposes allowing an additional week’s rent to be charged when the property has a pool, is fully furnished or if the tenant has pets.
What do you think? Do you think that in some situations, agents or lessors should be able to charge an additional bond? Or do you think that bonds are already enough to provide some financial protection? Do you think a ‘pet bond’ would help tenants in allowing them to have pets or have no effect?
To read the entire Discussion Paper, go to this link then click on ‘Discussion Paper’. Or read this section on page 7 & 8.
Queensland’s new Housing Minister sworn in
Reported in the Courier Mail today by Sarah Vogler
FORMER NRL referee Tim Mander was this morning sworn in as Minister for Housing and Public Works at a ceremony at Government House.
Mr Mander has now officially replaced Dr Bruce Flegg who resigned from the portfolio last weeks following “sloppy administration in his office.
His resignation came just seven months into the new government’s term.
Dr Flegg’s departure also allowed Gympie MP David Gibson to come back from the backbench to a minor role as the chair of the state development, infrastructure and industry committee.
Mirani MP Ted Malone was also this morning officially appointed Assistant Minister for emergency volunteers at the Government House ceremony.
Mr Mander will attend his first cabinet meeting today.
New Housing Minister isn’t a landlord
We’ve just looked at the Queensland paliament’s register of interests for new Housing Minister, Tim Mander, member for Everton (in Brisbane). Unlike Dr Flegg, it doesn’t look like Minister Mander has any investment properties. The following is what is recorded against his name on the Queensland parliament website. (If you want to look up other’s interests up click here to go to the register)
MANDER, Timothy Leonard (Everton)
11. Interests in real estate [7(2)(g)]
Ferny Grove, 650m2, family home, joint owner with wife
12. Liabilities over $10,000 [7(2)(h)]
Investment loan – Macquarie
13. Debentures, managed funds, or similar investments [7(2)(i)]
100F Managed Fund
14. Savings and investment accounts [7(2)(j)]
Cheque account – Macquarie; cheque account – Bendigo; savings account – NAB; savings account – Credit Union Australia
15. Gifts received valued at over $500 [7(2)(k)]
VIP annual double movie pass – The Arts Centre Gold Coast; honorary members and guest badge July 11-June 12 – Gold Coast Turf Club; Qantas Wallabies v Wales – Australian Rugby Union; Qantas Socceroos v Japan Reception – Football Federation Australia; 2012 Channel 7 Ipswich Cup VIP Function – Ipswich Turf Club; A League Grand Final Roar v Perth – Football Federation Australia; Broncos game – Broncos Football Club; Lions Box Lions v Geelong – Lions Football Club; 2012 State of Original Series Game 2 – Australia Rugby League and Board of NSW Rugby League
16. Sponsored travel or accommodation received [7(2)(l)]
Return flight to Dalby to attend races;
17. The source of any other income over $500 per annum [7(2)(m)]
Managed Fund Return (100F)
18. Other assets over $5,000 [7(2)(n)]
RAV 4 x 2, Private Life Assurance
19. Membership of any political party, trade or professional organisation; or office holder; or financial contributor over $500 per annum [7(2)(o)]
Liberal National Party; Scripture Union Qld; Interserve; World Vision; Priceless Life Centre; Arana Hills Churches of Christ
“Ministers falter on ‘open’ test”
Steve Wardill also ruminated about the openness of the govenrment in this piece in today’s Courier Mail. Click here to read the piece in which he focusses some thought on the issues surrounding ex Housing Minister Dr Bruce Flegg.
Inside a Minister’s downfall
The following is reprinted from today’s Brisbane Times, reporter Daniel Hurst.
The lobbying revelations, the 30-minute berating of a minister, and the downfall of a career … Daniel Hurst reports on the drama behind Bruce Flegg’s departure from Campbell Newman’s cabinet.
ANALYSIS
It was November 2 and Queensland Housing Minister Bruce Flegg’s chief of staff was angry about a story on lobbying.
“You journos sure know how to twist a story,” Fraser Stephen wrote, according to the email’s recipient, Dr Flegg’s former senior media adviser Graeme Hallett.
“Talk about desperation to make a tale out of nothing.”
The email was a reference to a Fairfax Media story highlighting two occasions in which Dr Flegg’s office was recorded as having lobbying contact with his son, Jonathon Flegg, who happened to be manager of government relations at private sector consulting firm Rowland.
Within two weeks, Mr Stephen was sacked as Dr Flegg’s chief of staff, Mr Hallett was dumped from his senior media adviser job, and Dr Flegg ultimately fell on his sword and resigned as a minister.
So how did a desperate and twisted tale about “nothing” set off a chain of events that provoked the Newman government’s second ministerial resignation? Click here to read the rest of the article.
Communique from the Select Council on Housing and Homelessness
To read today’s communique from the Select Council on Housing and Homelessness click here.
Commitment to new agreement to tackle homelessness at today’s Select Council on Housing and Homelessness
Federal Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Brendan O’Connor, released the following press statement after today’s meeting of the Select Council on Housing and Homelessness.
16 November 2012
Minister for Housing and Homelessness Brendan O’Connor today congratulated his State and Territory counterparts for agreeing to an ongoing commitment to work together to tackle homelessness.
Ministers at today’s Select Council on Housing and Homelessness meeting in Brisbane agreed, subject to Cabinet processes, to enter into negotiations for a new National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness.
They also agreed, subject to Cabinet processes, to work on a one-year transition partnership agreement for 2013-14 while the new long-term agreement is negotiated.
With the current partnership due to expire on 30 June 2013, the Gillard Government has committed to a further one year of funding for service delivery under the agreement, with the expectation the States and Territories will match funding.
“We look forward to States and Territories getting the agreement of their Cabinets at the earliest opportunity,” Mr O’Connor said. Continue reading
Requirement to provide tenancy advice in new National Partnership Agreement says Minister O’Connor
Last Wednesday the Federal Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Brendan O’Connor, made a speech to the National Press Club. He talks about the future of the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness and commits the Federal government to funding in the new financial year when the current agreement runs out.
The Minister also says a requirement within the next Agreement will be the provision of tenancy advice. See his press release below or read his comprehensive speech delivered at the National Press Club. He discusses tenancy advice on pages 19 & 20.
GILLARD GOVERNMENT COMMITS TO CONTINUING HOMELESSNESS FUNDING
Federal Minister for Housing and Homelessness Brendan O’Connor today announced that the Gillard Government will approach the States and Territories to negotiate a new homelessness partnership.
Mr O’Connor said the new agreement would be based on matched funding and framed by the core principles of prevention, early intervention and breaking the cycle of homelessness.
“The Agreement should improve transparency and ensure we can measure the effectiveness of Government action,” Mr O’Connor told the National Press Club.
“To provide certainty during these negotiations for the tireless and compassionate workers in this sector, and, most importantly, for their clients, we commit today to providing our half of the funding for next financial year while we finalise a longer term agreement. Continue reading