While Labor welcomes the Premier’s announcement today that the Government will explore establishing a fund for residential tenants and landlords in financial difficulty, greater commitment is still needed to ensure tenants can continue to pay rent during the COVID-19 emergency.
Shadow Housing Minister, Alison Standen, said Tasmanian tenants and landlords deserve Government support in line with other states.
“The Government must commit to providing rental assistance funding for private renters along the lines of the grants programs announced by the Victorian, Western Australian and Queensland governments,” Ms Standen said
“These states provide one-off rent relief payments of up to $2,000 to support eligible landlords and tenants experiencing rental hardship due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“The Government must also extend Tasmania’s moratorium on residential evictions to fall into line with other jurisdictions that have committed to a six month ban.
“Currently at least one in five households are in private rentals in Tasmania. Those tenants are more likely to have lower incomes, to be casual workers, and to be employed in industries hardest hit by COVID-19 including hospitality, retail and the service industries.
“It is in the interests of both tenants and landlords to find ways for tenants in private rental properties to maintain their tenancies despite loss of employment and income.
“Now, more than ever, housing is on the frontline of healthcare. Tasmanians are being told to stay at home but you can’t stay at home if you’ve been evicted because you’ve lost your job and can’t pay the rent.
“Tasmanian tenants and landlords deserve support in line with other states. Peter Gutwein must get up to speed with what other states are doing to show compassion for people in extreme rental hardship and financial distress.”
Alison Standen MP
Shadow Housing Minister
