Losing their last trained worker and without funding security after June 30, the challenges were just too big for the Rockhampton TAAS. If the State accepted the $2.5M offer of funding from the Commonwealth, maybe tenants there would still have access to specialist tenancy advice. Here’s a final message from Rocky TAAS
Tag Archives: qldpol
Federal funds boost service for vulnerable tenants – QT
Reprinted from the Queensland Times Ipswich May 28 by Joel Gould
THE Ipswich Regional Advocacy Service (IRASI) is set to receive an extra six months of funding from the Federal Government to continue its work providing advice and advocacy services to vulnerable tenants.
Blair MP Shayne Neumann said the government would provide a $2.5 million life-raft to the LNP State Government to keep the Queensland Tenant Advice and Advocacy Services (QTAAS) going so long as it was accepted by the Premier Campbell Newman.
Mr. Neumann said the State Government’s decision to defend QTAAS was “hanging like a black cloud over the head of this vital local service”.
IRASI’s contract ends next month on June 30 and Mr. Neumann said “the decision by the LNP State Government has been short-sighted, legally senseless and economically irrational.
“This service is recognized as a core state and territory responsibility with every other jurisdiction in Australia funding tenant advice and advocacy services,” he said.
“Every day the dedicated workers at IRASI work hard to help tenants keep a roof over their head and avoid becoming homeless.
“They deserve to know what their future holds.
“QTAAS services are critical in preventing homelessness and supporting vulnerable tenants.”
Minister for Housing and Public Works Tim Mender told The QT recently that the government would be “redirecting funds from TAAS in order to provide additional social housing for our neediest Queenslanders”.
“The services provided by QTAAS are available through other government agencies like the Residential Tenancies Authority, through government-funded programs like Rent Connect and other community organisations,” he said.
Worried in Whitsunday
Reprinted from the Whitsunday Coast Guardian 29-5-13
Housing Minister Mander & Tenants’ Union on ABC 612
From Steve Austin’s blog site
This morning Steve Austin’s program on ABC 612 featured an piece about the tenant advice services and the offer from the Commonwealth to fund them. Click here to listen to Housing Minister Mander trying to explain why it is a good idea not to take $2.5M to help Queensland battlers and the Tenants’ Union of Queensland’s response to that.
National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness – press releases
Today both the Commonwealth and State government sent out press releases about the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness.
Here is the Commonwealth government’s press release.
And here is the State government’s press release.
Funding offer won’t dictate policy on tenant service: LNP – Brisbane Times
Another Brisbane Times article about the State government’s refusal of money to keep tenant services going. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/funding-offer-wont-dictate-policy-on-tenant-service-lnp-20130529-2naqu.html
You can make comments at the bottom.
Queensland rejects $2.5m for tenant service – Brisbane Times
Read this article in today’s Brisbane Times by clicking here. There is space for comments at the bottom.
Government must put people before politics and accept TAAS funding offer – State Opposition
Government Must Put People Before Politics And Accept TAAS Funding Offer
Press Release OFFICE OF THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION
TUESDAY 28 MAY 2013
The Newman government has put politics before people, refusing to accept a Commonwealth offer to save the Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service with the Cairns TAAS already closed and Rockhampton TAAS to close by the end of the week.
Shadow Housing Minister Jo-Ann Miller said although the LNP government had an offer of $2.5 million in Federal funds on the table, it was determined to doom the TAAS service by playing petty political games instead of helping the thousands of Queenslanders who rely on the critical service to keep a roof over their heads.
Mrs Miller said Housing Minister Tim Mander was showing his true cruel and callous colours by refusing to accept the offer and keep TAAS offices in regional centres throughout the state open.
“With a stroke of his pen Mr Mander can save thousands of families the anguish they will experience once this service is gone,” Mrs Miller said.
“Instead, he chooses to play silly political games, refusing to even respond to this offer of $2.5 million which will keep TAAS offices open for the next six months.
“That’s typical of a government that would axe this frontline service in the first place. Continue reading
Will the State support tenant services?
What a great offer by the Commonwealth government – thank you. Please Premier Newman, support tenants in our state and continue funding for the TAAS program.
Breaking news – Queensland signs the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness
Word has just come down that Queensland has signed off on the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness. We have no details yet, but a core requirement under this agreement was the funding of tenant advisory services. We’ll update you as we get more information.
Mackay makes the news
Tenancy advice play the ultimate waiting game
Reprinted from the Daily Mercury 27th May 2013. Read from website here.
Mackay’s Tenancy Advice and Advocacy Service’s co-ordinator Koni Johnson is worried their service will have to close. Tony Martin
KONI Johnson is playing the ultimate waiting game as her future looms in the hands of the State Government.
Ms Johnson is Mackay’s Tenancy Advice and Advocacy Service’s co-ordinator and doesn’t know if she’ll have a job after the end of next month.
Last year the State Government pulled the plug on funding for more than 20 tenancy advice services. The Federal Government stepped in with funding, which allowed the services to operate until the end of June.
Last week it announced it would provide a further $2.5 million to keep the services open for another six months, but it is unclear if the State Government will accept this funding.
If not, Ms Johnson said she and her other two staff members would be out of work, leaving Mackay’s tenants without support.
“We’re in limbo land; it’s a rollercoaster ride that is full of ups and downs,” she said. Continue reading
A supporter’s response to the Premier’s facbook team
A great response from one of our supporters to the Premier’s facebook team.
Susie: Mr Newman, I am sorry but do you even know what it is like to be a tenant? I have been through the process. Most landlords are represented by the real estate agent, who has training in that field and has often been to QCAT numerous times before to represent their Property owners. A tenant is completely on their own. They always have to represent themselves. How is it also fair that the interest from Tenants’ Bonds funds the RTA that is there for both lessors and tenants alike? Regardless of what you CAN legally do with the money, that money exists only because tenants are made to pay a Bond on the house they stay in, even if the place is in disrepair when they move in. For many it is “live in a tip or on the streets”. What about bringing in a Landlord Bond to cover repairs and maintenance during the tenancy that tenants can access through QCAT? Continue reading
‘MPs are capable of accessing, reading and explaining the legislation to tenants’ – Premier’s FB team
This is a response from the Premier’s Team last Friday to questions about TAAS. We’re not sure if they realise that many electorate officers call TAAS for help.
Hi Susie – As someone who has worked in an electorate office, I can assure you that staff and MPs are capable of accessing, reading and explaining the legislation to tenants.
This is what electorate officers do, on a daily basis, covering the whole spectrum of issues.
They are also happy to provide free photocopies to assist tenants and constituents. In fact, many offices are happy to print out hundreds of community newsletters for free.
As we all know, the RTA’s website has directories filled with detailed fact sheets and forms and explanations that can help an electorate officer explain to a constituent their rights. The electorate office staff would be happy to print out these fact sheets. (In fact the one I worked in had a number of factsheets printed out ready to go). Of course, the RTA does provide free concilliation services. The RTA’s Dispute Resolution Service can be conducted through separate telephone calls, a teleconference or by face to face conference.
It’s worth noting that the RTA successfully resolves 70% of all disputes through concilliation. Of course, unresolved matters can then be held by the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal. QCAT is designed to allow Queenslanders to represent themselves – in fact, all parties involved in a matter before QCAT must represent themselves. As you acknowledge, tenants have to represent themselves at QCAT – so do landlords. Continue reading
Response to the member for Morayfield
Member for Morayfield, Mr Darren Grimwade, sent this response to constituent who sent it to us on facebook. We cannot let this pass without comment because many things said are incorrect (see our responses below). To be fair, it’s not much different to what other members of the government have been saying, but with a TAAS in his electorate, we thought Mr Grimwade might had a better understanding. This is what he said:
….Hi Julie, The government last year made the decision to redirect funding from TAASQ to bricks and mortar housing solutions, this decision stands. Services provided by TAASQ were an unnecessary duplication of services already provided by the RTA, various Queensland NGOs and more than 30 community legal centres around Queensland. Priority must be given to housing the 23 000 households on the social housing waiting list, which includes people with a disability, the elderly and single parents with children. Continue reading
Tenant Story #3
What you can do to help Save Tenant Services (click here) and why you should try! This story sent from a TAAS worker.
A disabled woman on crutches just came into our office. She’s turned up a few times before, and no matter that we always remin…d her, the idea of making an appointment doesn’t seem to stick. Since she’s travelled over half an hour on public transport and then walked (on her crutches) from the train station to our service, we don’t turn her away. Continue reading