❓ Hon Wilson Tucker questions the Cook government's decision to not ban no-fault evictions, citing concerns about power imbalances between landlords and tenants. The Minister responds that the decision was made cautiously to maintain investor confidence in a tight rental market, referencing a Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre report.
AnsweredQoN 838Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
RESIDENTIAL TENANCIES — NO-FAULT EVICTIONS
838. Hon WILSON TUCKER to the Minister for Commerce:
I note that WA, along with the
Northern Territory, is the only state or territory that has not banned or is
proposing to ban no-fault evictions for tenancy agreements. I also note the ACT
Attorney General's recent comments —
''The bottom line is people
deserve a home to live in and shouldn't be evicted without a legitimate
reason. The ACT Government has committed to end no cause evictions to help
address the power imbalance that currently exists between landlords and a tenant
(1) What is the
evidence or basis for the Cook government's position that banning
no-fault evictions will disincentive investment in the housing market?
(2) If any reports or evidence does
exist, would the minister please table it?
838. Hon WILSON TUCKER to the Minister for Commerce:
I note that WA, along with the
Northern Territory, is the only state or territory that has not banned or is
proposing to ban no-fault evictions for tenancy agreements. I also note the ACT
Attorney General's recent comments —
''The bottom line is people
deserve a home to live in and shouldn't be evicted without a legitimate
reason. The ACT Government has committed to end no cause evictions to help
address the power imbalance that currently exists between landlords and a tenant
(1) What is the
evidence or basis for the Cook government's position that banning
no-fault evictions will disincentive investment in the housing market?
(2) If any reports or evidence does
exist, would the minister please table it?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1) The Cook
government carefully considered whether no-fault evictions should be prohibited
in Western Australia as part of reforms to
the Residential Tenancies Act 1987 and decided that now is not the time
to make this change to the legislation.
The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic
have reshaped housing markets across Australia, including tightening rental
markets. During consultation, a number of key stakeholders expressed the
concern that removing no-cause evictions may result in potential investors
deciding not to invest in the rental market. In the context of the historically
low rental vacancy rate, the government decided to act cautiously so that
investors feel confident purchasing and managing their investment properties.
This decision was supported by the
May 2023 release of the Housing affordability in Western Australia 2023:
Building for the future report by the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre,
which warned that in the current market —
Reforms
designed to aid tenants might have the opposite effect if supply were to
contract even further.
The proposed reforms strike a balance
by protecting the owner's investment property while improving the
rights of tenants.
(2) I table a copy
of the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre Housing Affordability in Western Australia
2023 report.
[See paper 2440 .]
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1) The Cook
government carefully considered whether no-fault evictions should be prohibited
in Western Australia as part of reforms to
the Residential Tenancies Act 1987 and decided that now is not the time
to make this change to the legislation.
The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic
have reshaped housing markets across Australia, including tightening rental
markets. During consultation, a number of key stakeholders expressed the
concern that removing no-cause evictions may result in potential investors
deciding not to invest in the rental market. In the context of the historically
low rental vacancy rate, the government decided to act cautiously so that
investors feel confident purchasing and managing their investment properties.
This decision was supported by the
May 2023 release of the Housing affordability in Western Australia 2023:
Building for the future report by the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre,
which warned that in the current market —
Reforms
designed to aid tenants might have the opposite effect if supply were to
contract even further.
The proposed reforms strike a balance
by protecting the owner's investment property while improving the
rights of tenants.
(2) I table a copy
of the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre Housing Affordability in Western Australia
2023 report.
[See paper 2440 .]
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