Whilst Mt Isa MP Robbie Katter didn’t get everything right (the tenant advice service is independent of the Residential Tenanceis Authority) he certainly understands what funding discontinuation means for local communities. See this piece in today’s North West Star. Click here
Tag Archives: qldpol
Out and about in Ashgrove
RTA to withdraw forms from Australia Post outlets
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 Access is being withdrawn on the very same day that the entire network of tenant advice services statewide is officially defunded – October 31.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?
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notice of funding cessation to the local/regional tenant advice services across the state, and now funding has been withdrawn for all systemic advocacy and representation of tenants’ interests.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
Plenty of tenant advice supporters at the unions’ day of action
An estimated 10,000 people attended the Stop the Cuts rally in the Brisbane CBD on September 12. This included lots of supporters of tenant advice services….
In the park before the march
More photos below….
QShelter’s views on the budget
Queensland Shelter issued a press release about today’s state budget. Click here to read.
Renters lose as advice services whitewashed from state budget
500,000 Queensland renting households are the losers in today’s state budget The government failed to reinstated the virtually self funded tenant advice services recently cut, and no replacement program was announced.
At the same time, the government reintroduced stamp duty concessions for repeat home purchasers, acknowledging they will lose $1B over four years in lost revenue. These concessions are additional to those already in place for first home purchasers.
The first home owner’s grant has been revised and increased, and will provide a $15,000 grant to those who buy off the plan or construct a house or apartment, costing the government $75M by 2013/4 and up to $95M in 2015/16.
The Queensland Treasurer said that Queensland is the best state to buy your own home in. But it will probably be the worst place to rent in for tenants who will no longer have access to free tenancy advice, which cost a mere $5M per year and are funded mainly from interest generated on tenant’s own bond interest.
The budget papers also announced a review of tenancy laws – no details provided – and social housing entitlements.
Social housing reforms up for review are under occupancy; the introduction of fixed term tenancies for all social housing tenants; stock transfers (and possibly staff) to the community housing sector and a review of rent policy.
Queensland residential renters are clearly the losers in the state budget and it is hard not to be cynical about the motivations of removing tenant advocates across the state at the same time as reviewing these issues.
Will renters get anything in tomorrow’s budget?
What do you think? Will Queensland renters get anything in tomorrow’s budget? Repeat home purchasers will have additional stamp duty concessions of around $7,000 on an average priced home reinstated, first home buyers of newly build properties will get a $15,000 grant.
Will tenants get their self funded Tenant Advice and Advocacy Services back? What are your thoughts?
The wrong solution to the right problem
This piece is written by Peter Young who is a lecturer in the School of Human Services and Social Work at Griffith University. He is a former director of policy with the Queensland Department of Housing.
Queensland Housing workers rallied in Brisbane this week to protest against cuts to housing services announced in July by the Housing Minister, Dr Bruce Flegg.
The Newman Government’s decision to de‐fund the Tenancy Advice and Advocacy Services, and to sell off three State owned caravan parks, is akin to dismantling and selling off a fence at the top of a cliff to pay for a portion of a new ambulance at the bottom of the cliff. The shortage of public housing in Queensland matters, but finding relatively small savings through de‐funding preventative housing programs is a self‐defeating approach. Continue reading
Complex areas of tenant advice work
Supporters out and about at the markets
Save Tenant Services in 30 seconds!
This ad is being run in Brisbane cinemas now to alert more people to the issue.
Courier Mail runs an opinion piece on funding cuts to tenant advice
Click here to read the article and leave your comment at the end.
Housing Minister Bruce Flegg and Premier Campbell Newman continue to cut spending on public housing. Picture: Mark Calleja Source: The Courier-Mail
Federal Minister – homelessness not helped by cuts to tenant advice services
On September 6, the Federal Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Brendan O’Connor, opened the National Housing Conference in Melbourne. In his opening address he commented that funding cuts to the Tenant Advice and Advocacy Services in Queensland was not helping to reduce homelessness. See the post here from the Australian newspaper. Continue reading
Newman government cuts – too much, too fast?
In this article journalist Sharona Coutts from the Global Mail reviews cuts made by the Newman government. Ten issues are canvassed including those made to the Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service program. Coordinator of the Tenants’ Union of Queensland, Penny Carr, is interviewed. Click here to read the article.