Mr BAYLEY question to MINISTER for SMALL BUSINESS, TRADE and CONSUMER AFFAIRS, Mr BARNETT
[10.10 a.m.]
The quarterly rental review by Cotality shows Hobart rents have risen 1.9 per cent in three months. In the last month alone, rents rose by 0.6 per cent. Renters are being slammed with the rising price of food and fuel. Paying rent is hard enough already; Tasmanians can’t afford any more increases. At the same time, the rental review showed vacancy rates have dropped to 1.6 per cent. Without protections against unfair evictions, more and more Tasmanians would struggle to find an affordable home if they are kicked out of their rentals for no good reason. In the middle of an escalating cost of-living crisis and with winter approaching, people shouldn’t be left out in the cold. Will you consider freezing rents and protecting tenants from unfair evictions during this crisis?
ANSWER
Honourable Speaker, I thank the honourable member for his question. You raise some good points in terms of the concerns in the community for those renting more generally. That’s why our government is being proactive in providing support for bus fares through to 30 June. The response has been very positive, and I acknowledge the Greens’ support and the general support in that regard. There is also the $500,000 for food security the Premier announced recently. For those in rentals, of course, it’s relevant to all those communities.
We have a review of the residential tenancy legislation at the moment, and are getting feedback on that. That’s something I know the Greens and others have been keen to be involved in and seek feedback on.
In terms of those laws you referred to, that’s not a plan the government is considering at the moment. The Premier has made that clear in recent days and our government’s position hasn’t changed.
