Tag Archives: qldpol

Really? On the day he tried to cut TAAS?

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October 31 is the last day the Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service (TAAS) program is funded at a state level following the Queensland Housing Minister Bruce Flegg’s decision to discontinue the program and reallocate the funds.  On that very same day, the National Housing Conference opens at the Brisbane Convention Centre at 8.30am with a speech by Minister Flegg.  A sad irony to say the least.

The Commonwealth government will commence their emergency funding of the TAAS program the next day, preventing Queensland from becoming the only state or territory without any tenant advice services.  On November 2, the Federal Housing Minister, Brendan O’Connor (whose department is providing the emergency funding), addresses the National Housing Conference at 9am.

The defunding of the TAASs by the state government and attempted removal of these important support services for private rental market and social housing tenants casts a shadow over the Conference (particularly as these services were virtually self-funded by tenants through the interest generated on their bonds). Tenants are just not treated equitably.  Three weeks before announcing the defunding of TAAS, the Queensland government reintroduced stamp duty concessions for repeat home purchasers, costing the government $250M annually in lost revenue.  Reducing these concessions by just 2.5% would cover the entire cost of the TAAS program.

The Secretary General of the International Union of Tenants (IUT) is a keynote speaker at the National Housing conference .  The IUT considers Australian tenancy laws weak when compared to other developed countries.  Had it not been for the actions of the Federal government, Queensland tenants’ relatively weak rights would have been further compromised without access to any advice to ensure they are respected.

October 31 – November 2 will be strange days indeed.  If you’re interested in the National Housing Conference program you can see it here.

Minister to face budget questions today

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As we mentioned the other day, October 18 is the state budget estimate hearings for

From Qld parliament website

the Housing portfolio. That means the Minister for Housing will face questions from the opposition parties about the budget allocations in an open hearing process. We’re keen to hear if he gets any questions about the tenant advice service cuts and his decision to re allocate these monies even though they come from tenants own bond interest.

It’s like another tax on tenants!

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In fifteen days, the state government withdraws all funding from tenant advice services in the state even though they’re funded mainly from the interest generated on tenants’ bonds.  Luckily the Federal government has stepped in to provide emergency funding until the end of June next year.  The Federal Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs have been working very hard to get funding sorted out before the state withdraws its money on October 31.  The state government’s withdrawal of funding  like imposing an additional tax on tenants.  We still have an argument to win to get back tenant bond interest for tenant services, but thanks to the Feds at least we’re hear to run it!

West End happy about the reprieve

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The Westender reported on the Federal government emergency funding, which means the local tenant advice service can remain open and available to tenants in the area for the next eight months.  Let’s hope we can turn around the decision by the state government by then and keep all the 23 Tenant Advice and Advocacy Services, including the Tenants’ Union of Queensland, funded passed June 2013.

Read the article from the Westender here.

Progress on emergency Federal funding

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We heard there’s been some very busy bureaucrats in the federal Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) this week. They’ve been working out how to pay out the Gillard government’s emergency funding to the network of tenant advice services and the Tenants’ Union before the state government funding is cut at the end of October. Apparently very good progress has been made but there’s still a bit of work to do yet.

Relief on the Atherton Tablelands

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Reprinted from The Tablelander, 9 October 2012, by Nikki Taylor

An eleventh hour Federal Government funding announcement has saved the Tableland Tenancy Advice Service, for now at least.

Late last week the Gillard Government said it would provide a $3.3 million emergency funding lifeline for the Queensland Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service, which offers advice and advocacy services to tenants across the state.

On July 24, Premier Campbell Newman announced all 23 services, including the Atherton office, would be scrapped as of October 31. Atherton TTA worker Marita Romano said the team was “thrilled” with the announcement which will see interim funding in place until July 2013. Continue reading →

World Homelessness Day today!

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Today’s World Homelessness Day, aimed at raising awareness about homelessness in our communities. At the pointy end of their work, tenant advocates assist people to avoid homelessness and remain adequately housed.  Where this cannot be achieved, tenant advisors help the tenant to extract themselves from the situation with the least long term impact and so they can re enter the rental market as quickly as possible.

Last week Homelessness Australia sent out a press release which articulated why we should celebrate the Federal government stepping in to fund the Queensland Tenant Advice and Advocacy Services and how our services contribute to lowering rates of homelessness.  Read the article here.

What’s your question to the Minister?

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From Queensland Parliament website

Later this month, the Queensland Parliament holds its budget estimates committees hearings. The hearings are held after proposed expenditures in the state budget are referred to portfolio committees (like housing) to examine.On the day of the hearings, both the relevant Minister and the Departmental head must attend and may be asked questions by Members of Parliament.

This year the Housing Minister will appear at a hearing on October 18.  We want to know, if you were a Member of Parliament, what question would you be asking the Minister about his decisions in this year’s budget?

You helped Save Tenant Services – thank you!

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You helped Save Tenant Services. Thank you.

Whilst we still have a long way to go to secure the long term future of the 22 local tenant advice services and the Tenants’ Union of Queensland, this week we had a significant win with the Federal government offering emergency funding to assist us until the end of June 2013.

And we want to stop for a moment and say thank you .This significant achievement would not have happened without each and every one of you.  Whatever you have done, little or big, your efforts have helped us to get here.  We’re going to be asking you to help us again in the near future but today is the day to say thank you, thank you, thank you.  Your contribution has been vital in helping us along our way.