Mr BAYLEY question to PREMIER, Mr ROCKLIFF
[10.28 a.m.]
According to Domain, Hobart rents have had the largest quarterly increase in four years to a record $620 per week, higher now than Melbourne. Many Tasmanians can no longer afford to pay the rent. Anglicare’s Rental Affordability Snapshot shows those on a minimum wage cannot afford a room in a share house. It is the same story for solo parents, young people, singles, and disabled people on government benefits. At the same time, the conflict in the Middle East is driving up the cost of necessities like food and fuel. Renters are at breaking point. During the last sitting of parliament, your Housing minister said he was constantly reviewing the situation and would examine measures like rent freezes to help struggling renters. In light of the worsening crisis, have you and he discussed this? Are you prepared to help struggling renters, like your predecessor Peter Gutwein was?
ANSWER
Honourable Speaker, I thank the member for the question. You agree with me that every Tasmanian has the fundamental right to be safe and have a roof over their heads. I have said that for perhaps as long as I have been within this place. You also acknowledge the global circumstances. The global circumstances have changed significantly since the last November budget. That is why this budget will be a tough budget. That is why this budget will continue to invest in economyboosting and job-creating projects.
But when conditions change, responsible budgets have to change with the conditions. That’s why we will be ensuring that every dollar invested is invested to grow the economy and for a caring community as well.
Mr BAYLEY – Speaker, Point of order,45, relevance. I didn’t ask about the Budget. In fact, this initiative wouldn’t draw on the Budget. The question is explicitly about the government helping renters with a rent freeze, similar to what was done during COVID by Peter Gutwein.
The SPEAKER – Thank you, Premier.
Mr ROCKLIFF – As you are aware, the government has released a discussion paper on modernising the Residential Tenancy Act 1997. Consultation on the discussion paper began in early April. I know the minister, Mr Vincent, is attuned to many ideas and opportunities within our residential tenancy laws, modernising those in a balanced and practical way –
Dr Woodruff – You’ve got to respond to the crisis at hand.
Mr ROCKLIFF – and allowing all Tasmanians to have their say. It’s not a final policy position document. Nor is it a draft bill or legislative proposal. It’s a public consultation paper which you can have input into. It is designed to support the review. It invites Tasmanians to have their say on a broad range of issues affecting renters, owners and housing providers.
What I can say about the government’s position, and what we have made clear in the discussion paper, is that the reform must strike the right balance. There must be fair and reasonable protections for tenants while preserving the confidence of owners and housing providers to continue offering rental housing. That balance matters. I can see where you’re coming from, but we need to have balance because reform can have unintended consequences for supply, affordability and market confidence.
Dr Woodruff – This is a temporary thing we are talking about.
The SPEAKER – Leader of the Greens, this is your second warning. I will allow one interjection, but when it keeps on being interjection – I want all ministers and the Premier to be heard in silence, please.
Supplementary Question
Mr BAYLEY – The Premier pointed to the Residential Tenancy Act 1997 review. It opened in early April but it doesn’t close until 12 June. That’s midwinter, when the weather will be at its coldest. This is a temporary proposition that we’re putting to you, pending the formal review, which will take many months. Will you help struggling renters before the cold winter, just as your predecessor, Peter Gutwein, did?
Mr ROCKLIFF – We’ve already moved to support renters. Pets in rentals is an example of those reforms. The paper I speak of covers full tenancy lifecycle, including applications, privacy, bonds, rent and affordability, repairs and minimum standards, protections for vulnerable groups, endof-tenancy settings and dispute resolution.
We have consistently said for some time that our government does not support rent freezes or rent caps.
