Targets – State MPs, Ministers – Housing, Treasurer, Premier
Dear
Please direct a small percentage of tenants’ bond interest to independent tenant advice
services in Queensland.
Last year your government withdrew funding for tenant advice services, leaving Queensland
as the only state where tenants’ bond interest is not applied to the provision of independent
advice services. These services are essential for Queensland tenants and I am asking you to
re-establish such a program.
Tenant advice services have existed in Queensland for over 20 years and predominantly
assist people in the private rental market to express their tenancy rights, such as living in
properties that are safe and in reasonable repair, and understand and meet their
responsibilities. For some tenants, assistance from these services prevents them from
becoming homeless.
A campaign in the mid to late 1980s run by tenants and advocate bodies including the
Tenants’ Union of Queensland, resulted in the centralised collection of bonds. The success
of that early campaign means today around $40M of interest is generated annually on
tenants’ bond money. An entire network of independent, locally based tenant advisory
services can be funded from a small percentage, less than 15%, of that money.
The generation and use of bond interest provides a means for tenant advice services to be
funded without being a drain on taxpayers.
Your government has stated that it will increasingly rely on the private rental market to
house Queenslanders; it desires small government and outsourced services; and, it wishes to
reduce reliance on government funding. Tenant advice services assist to meet these desired
outcomes. Additionally they help to make the private rental market work better and become
a more desirable place for people to live.
I urge you to consider these matters.
Targets – Federal Ministers – Housing (Kevin Andrew), AG Brandis
Dear
I am writing to urge you to continue funding Queensland Tenant Advisory Services until a
long term funding solution can be found with the Newman State government.
Last year the Queensland government discontinued funding to these vital services. Funded
from a small percentage of the interest generated on tenants’ bonds, the services were
virtually self-funded and not a drain on taxpayers. Over $39M in bond interest was available
in the 2011/12 year and less than 15% of those monies funded the entire statewide network
of independent services.
To keep tenant advisory services going in Queensland, the Commonwealth government
committed emergency funding which runs out on December 31, 2013. If no further funding
is committed, 16 regionally based services will cease to provide advisory service to
Queensland tenants who, as a result, will be severely disadvantaged in regard to resolving
their housing issues.
Tenant advisory services are vital to ensure Queensland tenants get a fair go.
Whilst the government’s Residential Tenancies Authority provides basic information to all
parties, over 80% of rental properties are managed by professional management services
such as real estate agents. The cost of these services as well as any legal advice can be
offset against lessors’ rental income.
Free tenant advice services level the playing field by providing tenants access to expert
advice about their rights and responsibilities. Without them, tenants are disadvantaged in a
system where disputes are ultimately decided in an adversarial manner and the lack of
access by one party to independent advice or reduces their ability to participate in the
process.
A long term solution lies in the State government reviewing the use of tenant bond interest
and its application to tenant advisory services. However, until a solution at that level can be
found I urge you to continue to fund tenant advisory services, keeping Queensland in line
with other jurisdictions.
State Pollie contacts
Minister for Housing and Public Works
The Hon Tim Mander MP
PO Box 2457 BRISBANE QLD 4001
Phone: (07) 3237 1832 Fax: (07) 3012 9017
Email: HousingandPublicworks@ministerial.qld.gov.au
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TimManderMpEverton
Queensland Treasurer
The Hon Tim Nicholls MP
GPO Box 611 BRISBANE QLD 4001
Phone: 07 3224 6900 Fax: 07 3211 0122
Email: Treasurer@ministerial.qld.gov.au
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TimNichollsMP
Queensland Premier
The Hon Campbell Newman MP
GPO Box 15185 CITY EAST QLD 4002
Phone: (07) 3224 4500 Fax: (07) 3221 1809
Email: thepremier@premiers.qld.gov.au
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/campbell.newman
Federal Pollies contact list
Federal Minister for Social Services
The Hon Kevin Andrews MP
PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Telephone: (02) 6277 7560 Fax: (02) 6273 4122
Email menzies@aph.gov.au
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kevinandrewsmp
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevinandrewsmp
Federal Attorney-General
Senator The Hon George Brandis QC
PO Box 6100
Senate
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Telephone: (02) 6277 7300 Fax: (02) 6273 4102
senator.brandis@aph.gov.au