Dear ,

Can you help me? I've just put out the media release below and uploaded an analysis we've sent to all MLAs about legislation that is to be debated tomorrow which will shift the cost of COVID-19 hardship from tenants to landlords.  I need some real life examples to help me. If, after reading this, you know anyone who might be in trouble because of these proposed laws, please contact me.

You can contact me on 0411 104 801 or graham.young@aip.asn.au.

Typical of the Palaszczuk government's "transparent" approach to government the legislation is not even on the notice paper for tomorrow, and a draft does not appear to be available, although organisations like the REIQ have been provided with something.

The Courier Mail covers what it has been told are some of the main points here. What it boils down to is that residential tenants who have been affected by COVID-19 can demand that their landlord reduce their rent proportionately to their decrease in income, and they are also given other security, even though they may be a bad tenant..

This legislation needs to be fought. It is one of those measures that is likely to be cemented into legislation for the future, ao that whenever a tenant falls on some sort of hardship it is someone else's problem.

But rather than help tenants it will make it harder to find a rental property because landlords will be reluctant to invest, and very careful what tenancy risk they take on. And it may destroy some landlords, who only get their income after they pay costs of management, rates, mortgage repaymets, land tax and maintenance. For many a 50% decrease in rent could be a 100% decrease in income. Hard to bear, particularly if your stockmarket investments have suspended dividends as well.

From our point of view as champions of basic liberties it is a savage attack on personal property rights, and damaging to the recovery from this crisis..

The only organisation opposing the legislation has been the REIQ, but unfortunately they have taken a soft line looking for compromise. There should be no compromise. This is an arbitrary imposition on one segment of society who our political masters obviously think are rich and can afford it. That's rich coming from people who collect a generous salary every week, and who are flat out even attending meetings these days.

Regards,

GRAHAM YOUNG

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Queensland Government's new, secret, tenancy laws unnecessary, unjust and inequitable

A Queensland think tank has criticised the introduction of new residential tenancy laws for the COVID-19 pandemic as unnecessary, unjust and inequitable in an analysis sent to all Queensland MLAs.

Executive Director Graham Young also noted that although the minister claims the changes will be debated in parliament tomorrow they are not on the notice paper, and the legislation does not appear to be available.

“The federal government has increased payments to welfare recipients, made it easier for newly unemployed to access benefits, and instituted a job-keeper allowance. Welfare recipients are also eligible for rental assistance.

“Why should property owners be expected to further top-up these benefits by being forced to give discounts on rent to their tenants?”

“The government payments are designed to ensure that people can meet their commitments. If they are inadequate, then the payments need to be adjusted.”

Mr Young said the government was arbitrarily targeting one group to support tenants, and it is hard to see the logic.

“Occupancy costs are only one cost people need to meet. Logically the government should be legislating to ensure that grocery stores, service providers, retailers, utilities and so on should also charge discounted prices to people who have lost income.

“And just pointing that out underlines the logical absurdity of this proposal.”

Mr Young said that it was also inequitable between people who are COVID-19 casualties.

“There are many home owners with large mortgages who will be in more desperate straits than renters, yet the best they can hope for is a repayment moratorium from their bank of 6 months, which they will have to pay off in due course.

“Landlords may also have experienced a decline in income because of COVID-19. Many landlords are only moderately well-off with 23.5% of them in the bottom 40% of households by disposable income.

“They may also be retirees who have seen their share portfolio decimated, dividends suspended, and now face a 50% reduction in their rental income, but still have to pay management fees, rates, land tax, maintenance and loan repayments. Who’s going to support them?”

In the last federal election Labor lost in large part because of their proposed taxes on negative gearing and dividends. This proposal is even more unjust.