This was such a good comment from Mary S but it was buried down the list of articles on our website so we thought we would put it up as a post. These are Mary’s comments: Continue reading
Tag Archives: savetaas
TUQ coordinator interviewed on the Day of Action
On the Day of Action, the TUQ Coordinator, Ms Penny Carr was interviewed in detail on 4ZZZ’s Brisbane line. She discusses, amongst other things, the differences between tenant advice services and the Residential Tenancies Authority as well as fears that she shares with the industry that the tenancy tribunal will become clogged up when tenants do not have access to advice services.
Frontline, and local, and lost?
We thought it was worth showing this map again. It’s graphic! 
This is where tenants won’t be able to go after October 31 to get advice on things like what the terms of their agreements mean, how to understand their (complex) rent ledgers and receipts, where to get assistance to prepare for a hearing in QCAT or advice on whether demands by their landlord or agent are reasonable or lawful. These dots also represent places where the Residential Tenancies Authority won’t be able to refer tenants to after Oct 31 (like they do now) unless the government reinstates the program!
Continue reading to see the full size map. Continue reading
Send 5 to keep us alive! And win a campaign t-shirt!
We’re launching our new postcard campaign and here’s what we’re hoping you’ll do to help us.
We want you to recruit 5 friends or family members to send off postcards to the Premier and the Housing Minister to seek funding reinstatement. To get the postcards, you only need to email us at [email protected] and tell us how many postcards you want and if you’d like them posted or emailed to you. And of course you’ll have to get your friends to put stamps on them. We’re going to give a free Save Tenant Services t-shirt to the first two supporters who tell us they’ve got 5 people to send the postcards in! You might have noticed the shirts in photos on our site.
We still want you to write letters to your local MP, the Housing Minister and the Premier, these are very effective, but our postcard campaign is about getting more people involved in our campagin to seek funding reinstatement for the Tenant Advice and Advocacy Program. To see the postcards in full size continue reading.
Video from the Premier’s postcard drop!
Finally we’ve got some video from the Day of Action Brisbane event – we met in the park, walked to thePremier’s electorate office, made a bit of noise then delivered our postcards. (Video shot by Tim Seelig)
Minister continues to misunderstand tenant advice program
At the Tenant Advice and Advocacy Services’ day of action protesting funding cuts are (front from left) Brett and Cheryl Kettlewell of Blackstone, and (rear from left) Arlene Lewis, co-ordinator of Tenant Services Ipswich, and Helen Parcell of Eastern Heights.
The Minister’s comments show he misunderstands that more people will end up homeless and in need of social housing if he withdraws the tenant advice and advocacy program which keeps people adequately and safely housed in the private rental market Continue reading
A few more photos…….
Alarmed Wynnum citizens write in!
The Wynnum Herald printed letters from alarmed readers on August 28.
Law Society concerns for loss of tenancy advice aired in Hervey Bay
Ipswich tenants and supporters call for funding reinstatement
Thumbs down: Arlene Lewis, from Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service, joins protesters in Ipswich. Source: Quest Newspapers
Tenants and supporters of the Ipswich Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service make a stand about the funding cut to their local service.Click here to read the article from Quest Ipswich.
Action Day a resounding success!
WOW everyone, great job!! Thanks so much for supporting the 22 local and regional tenant advice services statewide and the Tenants’ Union of Queensland with your calls to reinstate the Program.
It sounds like there were plenty of calls, both the Premier and the Housing Minister. A few people reported not being able to get through at times so had to call back later.
In Brisbane about 80 people turned up to hand in postcards to the Premier’s electorate office. The crowd was loud, proud and polite! We’ll get some video of it up soon. Continue reading
Supporters urge the Premier to reinstate the tenant advice program
See more pictures below Continue reading
Happy clients who don’t want to lose their tenant advice service!
While we were out and about at the Brisbane Boggo Road we found some happy tenant advice clients who are opposed to the funding cuts.
Misguided Housing Minister say TAAS duplicates RTA !!
Tenant advice services call for funding reinstatement
Protesters to rally against funding cut for Tenant Advice and Advocacy Services (reprinted from the Courier Mail 28-8-12. Reporter Koren Helbig)
PROTESTERS will today rally outside Premier Campbell Newman’s northwest Brisbane electorate office, demanding funding for a key tenancy advice service used by 80,000 Queenslanders each year be reinstated.
The Government has argued the Tenant Advice and Advocacy Services funding, which topped $20 million over four years, is better directed to new public housing properties.
Campaign organiser Peter Mott said the change could force more people on to the public housing waiting list. Continue reading