Tag Archives: qldpol

Federal Government demands Qld guarantees tenancy advice funding – ABC online

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By Elise Worthington (reprinted from ABC News online)

Federal Housing Minister Mark Butler

Mr Butler says he will have to reassess other funding deals if the Queensland Government will not guarantee its future. (ABC News – file image)

Federal Housing Minister Mark Butler is threatening to withhold funding from the state as part of a dispute over the Queensland Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service (QTAAS).

Last year, the Queensland Government scrapped funding, forcing the Commonwealth to step in to keep the service running until the end of June.

Mr Butler says he will provide a further $2.5 million to keep QTAAS running for six months, if the State Government agrees to a long-term solution.

He says he wrote to Queensland Premier Campbell Newman earlier this week but is yet to get a response.

Mr Butler says he will have to reassess other funding deals if the Queensland Government will not guarantee its future.

“I’ve also made it clear to the Newman Government though that we reserve the right – if they don’t do this – not only to withhold the $2.5 million, but to review other arrangements we have with the Newman Government in the housing area, to ensure that really they look at this again with some common sense,” he said. Continue reading →

Breaking News! Commonwealth offers the State TAAS funding resolution

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Will your local member support this – and the continuation of TAAS in youir community? Why not ask them!

Joint Press Release  May 23
THE HON WAYNE SWAN MP  Deputy Prime Minster Treasurer
THE HON MARK BUTLER MP Minister for Housing and Homelessness

NEWMAN GOVERNMENT MUST FUND CRITICAL TENANT SERVICES

The Gillard Government today announced a $2.5 million life-raft to the Queensland Government to continue critical advice and advocacy services to vulnerable tenants for another six months.

Treasurer Wayne Swan said the Government funding offer, if accepted by Premier Newman, would allow current services to continue under the Queensland Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service (QTAAS).

“I would hope Mr Newman takes this opportunity to right a wrong – sit down with the Queensland Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service in good faith negotiations on a long term agreement,” Mr Swan said.

“These services are recognised as a core state and territory responsibility — every other jurisdiction in Australia funds tenant advice and advocacy services — and last month all states and territories agreed in principle to continue providing these services.” Continue reading →

State gov’t to continue funding for Home Assist Secure

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Congratulations Home Assist Secure, very good news! The following is yesterday’s  press release from State Housing Minister Mander’s office.  The state will continue to fund Home Assist Secure, a program that helps people remain in their private homes – owner occupied or private rental (see second last paragraph) and off the social housing wait list.  Sounds familiar to us because TAAS services assist private renters stay more safely and securely housed, reducing social housing demand.  Only difference is that TAAS is self funded by a small percentage of consumers’ bond interest!  Keep up the good work Home Assist Secure!

Home Assist Secure program to continue – Press Release
Minister for Housing & Public Works The Hon Tim Mander

Housing and Public Works Minister Tim Mander has announced the Home Assist Secure program will continue to be funded throughout 2013–14.

The program provides funding to improve the lifestyle of elderly and disabled residents living in privately-owned accommodation.

Mr Mander said almost $18 million will be allocated to service providers in 41 locations around Queensland. Continue reading →

A TAAS worker’s impassioned plea

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The following post got a pretty big response on our facebook page so we thought we’d share it here.  For those of you who haven’t seen the standard response supporters are getting from the Premier’s facebook team, we’ll post that at the bottom.

Impassioned and heartfelt. A TAAS worker’s response to what the Premier’s Facebook team states as reasons for TAAS de-funding.
Christine:  I cant describe to you how wrong you are. I am a taas worker and one third of my clients are at risk of homelessness, a service t support these people is NOT what the RTA does. Your decision to take tenants money away from tenancy support services is very wrong and will gravely impact the homelessness situation and unfairly burden tenants with debts that are grossly fraudulent. Today i spoke to tenants who;
  • have lost their jobs are single parents and behind on their rent and are three weeks away from homelessness;
  • an elderley gentleman who has had no stove or laundry for two years, rats,mould and no receipts for rent or bond lodged and constantly told to pay more money; Continue reading →

NPA on homelessness – 5 States & Territories sign but Queensland not yet!

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STATES AND ACT ADD THEIR SIGNATURES TO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S NATIONAL HOMELESSNESS AGREEMENT

THE HON MARK BUTLER MP
Minister for Housing and Homelessness  Press Release 14 May 2013

Five of the states and territories have now signed on to the Federal Government’s National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness for 2013/14 guaranteeing federal funds will flow to their states.

Mr Butler said the Commonwealth had put up to $159 million on the table in March on the condition that states matched funding.

“New South Wale, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and the ACT have all signed on to the agreement, which also makes them eligible to bid for further funding under the Development Fund as part of a competitive process,” Mr Butler said.

“Applications for the Development Fund close today, so I urge remaining state governments to finance their share of this agreement to guarantee their state also has access to the fund.”

“This funding will ensure services which help give people a hand up every day have the certainty they need to continue delivering critical support.”

Mr Butler said achieving real results in reducing homelessness was only possible through joint responsibility and collaborative action.

“The transitional agreement provides funding to the sector over the next 12 months, while the Australian and state and territory governments negotiate a longer-term response to homelessness.”

“It’s now time for Queensland, WA and the Northern Territory to provide surety to homelessness service providers and their clients by committing their share of funds and signing the agreement as soon as possible.”

The National Partnership Agreement is part of the Federal Government’s $26 billion investment in housing and homelessness services, which aims to halve the rate of homelessness by 2020.

Public housing ownership may move to non-government groups

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Reprinted from the Mackay Daily Mercury.  Read it directly here.

Public housing ownership may move to non-government groups

Merrilyn Rowler: If you can’t get people housing in your society then that’s the government’s responsibility ...
Merrilyn Rowler: If you can’t get people housing in your society then that’s the government’s responsibility …

MACKAY tenant advocacy groups have criticised a recommendation put to the State Government to transfer ownership and management of public housing to non- government groups.

This week the State Government was given the Queensland Commission of Audit report, which included a recommendation to progressively transition existing and new public housing stock to the non-government sector.

However, Mackay Regional Tenants Group president Merrilyn Rowler said this was a bad idea. Continue reading →

International Union of Tenants makes comment

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International Union of Tenants

International Union of Tenants

Mr Magnus Hammar, Secretary-General of the International Union of Tenants based in Sweden, posted this comment on the Save Tenant Services facebook page recently.   Mr Hammar was  a keynote speaker at the National Housing Conference held in Brisbane last November.

Magnus Hammar:  Tenant services, incl. TUQ and all TAAS offices, are essential for all tenants in Queensland as the level of tenant’s security is so low in Queensland, and in other Australian states, compared with most other developed countries. This in spite of the fact that 1/3 of all Australians rent their accommodation. TUQ and TAAS contribute to a more level and fair playing field in a country where homeownership is favourised. Save tenant services!