❓ Mr. Katsambanis questions the Premier about support for residential tenants unable to pay rent after the COVID-19 moratorium, and whether landlords will bear the financial burden. The Premier outlines the government's approach, highlighting a moratorium on evictions but not rent payments, and ongoing consideration of support measures for both tenants and landlords.
AnsweredQoN 241Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
RESIDENTIAL TENANCIES
(COVID-19 RESPONSE) BILL 2020
241. Mr P.A. KATSAMBANIS to the Premier:
Under
the proposed residential tenancies legislation, what will happen after the
six-month moratorium for residential tenants who are still not in a position
to pay rent or catch up on rent they missed during the six-month period? Will
the Premier's government provide some form of subsidy to those people,
or will mum-and-dad property investors be expected to foot the bill for the
non-payment of rent?
(COVID-19 RESPONSE) BILL 2020
241. Mr P.A. KATSAMBANIS to the Premier:
Under
the proposed residential tenancies legislation, what will happen after the
six-month moratorium for residential tenants who are still not in a position
to pay rent or catch up on rent they missed during the six-month period? Will
the Premier's government provide some form of subsidy to those people,
or will mum-and-dad property investors be expected to foot the bill for the
non-payment of rent?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
The Attorney General; Minister for Commerce will introduce residential and
commercial tenancy legislation after question time. Clearly, the approach we
have adopted reflects the national agreement of the national cabinet on
residential tenancies and is a middle road of all the states. It is a difficult
question and a difficult issue to deal with. Obviously, we do not want to see people
made homeless who may have lost their incomes and suffered severe financial
hardship as a consequence of what has gone on. At the same time, we want people
to continue to be able to meet their rent obligations. The arrangement that has
been arrived at is a moratorium on evictions, but not a moratorium on rent
payments. The expectation of the government—indeed, the law—is
that tenants will continue to pay their rent. We will consider, and the
government has an active process of consideration, what support we can provide
to residential tenants and commercial landlords to pass on to commercial
tenants. The government is currently going through that process. I make the
point that at the end of six months, we will have to reconsider where we are
at. I make the further point, as the Prime Minister and the national cabinet have agreed, the financial
supports that governments can put in place will have to reflect the capacity of governments to afford them. At some point we will have to work towards the
private sector economy getting back on its feet and supporting itself. That
point will be upon us sometime in the next six months, so we need to always keep that in mind. Health and keeping
people safe is paramount, which I think the state has done a good job of, but making sure that we keep people employed and the private sector economy
operating properly, and getting back to a high level of operation in the future
is also an important thing that we will have to achieve.
The Attorney General; Minister for Commerce will introduce residential and
commercial tenancy legislation after question time. Clearly, the approach we
have adopted reflects the national agreement of the national cabinet on
residential tenancies and is a middle road of all the states. It is a difficult
question and a difficult issue to deal with. Obviously, we do not want to see people
made homeless who may have lost their incomes and suffered severe financial
hardship as a consequence of what has gone on. At the same time, we want people
to continue to be able to meet their rent obligations. The arrangement that has
been arrived at is a moratorium on evictions, but not a moratorium on rent
payments. The expectation of the government—indeed, the law—is
that tenants will continue to pay their rent. We will consider, and the
government has an active process of consideration, what support we can provide
to residential tenants and commercial landlords to pass on to commercial
tenants. The government is currently going through that process. I make the
point that at the end of six months, we will have to reconsider where we are
at. I make the further point, as the Prime Minister and the national cabinet have agreed, the financial
supports that governments can put in place will have to reflect the capacity of governments to afford them. At some point we will have to work towards the
private sector economy getting back on its feet and supporting itself. That
point will be upon us sometime in the next six months, so we need to always keep that in mind. Health and keeping
people safe is paramount, which I think the state has done a good job of, but making sure that we keep people employed and the private sector economy
operating properly, and getting back to a high level of operation in the future
is also an important thing that we will have to achieve.
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