Media Release
24 April 2014
Shadow Housing Minister Jo-Ann Miller says the Newman
Government’s announcement of funds for a housing advice service proves
yet again that the LNP has slashed frontline services without regard to
the impact on people’s lives.
“Housing Minister Tim Mander recently announced funds for a free advice service to assist the 60,000 Queenslanders living in retirement village units and manufactured homes,” Mrs Miller said.
“The new service will be offered through the Caxton Legal Service, but it would have saved a lot of anguish if the LNP had not withdrawn funding to the Caravan and Manufactured Home Resident Association (CAMRA)."
“One of the Newman Government’s first acts as part of its senseless and illogical slash-and-burn attack on frontline services was to stop funding the CAMRA."
“Labor warned at the time that the LNP’s frenzied and indiscriminate cutbacks would severely disadvantage the thousands of Queenslanders who relied on CAMRA for advice."
“It has taken two years for the message to get through to the Housing Minister and even now he has not restored funding to CAMRA or the Tenants’ Union of Queensland, the bodies which both have a long track record in this complex field."
“In making the announcement, Mr Mander admits that the laws around retirement and manufactured home living can be complex and difficult to understand."
“He also agrees that, because many residents are retired and may not be in a strong financial position, the last thing they need is to be involved in expensive and protracted disputes."
“It is a shame the LNP did not think about that when it axed CAMRA’s funding to provide free advice and assistance. Why has it taken so long for the LNP to confess that it cut too fast and too deep?"
“I am sure the Caxton Legal Service will provide sound advice, but right now we do not know if the new arrangement will ensure the same level of service to the same number of people."
“It may well be too little, too late."
“Mr Mander now claims that the commitment to fund Caxton Legal Centre to provide the service will ‘fulfil the LNP’s election promise to revitalise frontline service’ but at best he has restored what had been provided under Labor for many years and which was take away by the LNP in such an indiscriminate way,” she said.
“Housing Minister Tim Mander recently announced funds for a free advice service to assist the 60,000 Queenslanders living in retirement village units and manufactured homes,” Mrs Miller said.
“The new service will be offered through the Caxton Legal Service, but it would have saved a lot of anguish if the LNP had not withdrawn funding to the Caravan and Manufactured Home Resident Association (CAMRA)."
“One of the Newman Government’s first acts as part of its senseless and illogical slash-and-burn attack on frontline services was to stop funding the CAMRA."
“Labor warned at the time that the LNP’s frenzied and indiscriminate cutbacks would severely disadvantage the thousands of Queenslanders who relied on CAMRA for advice."
“It has taken two years for the message to get through to the Housing Minister and even now he has not restored funding to CAMRA or the Tenants’ Union of Queensland, the bodies which both have a long track record in this complex field."
“In making the announcement, Mr Mander admits that the laws around retirement and manufactured home living can be complex and difficult to understand."
“He also agrees that, because many residents are retired and may not be in a strong financial position, the last thing they need is to be involved in expensive and protracted disputes."
“It is a shame the LNP did not think about that when it axed CAMRA’s funding to provide free advice and assistance. Why has it taken so long for the LNP to confess that it cut too fast and too deep?"
“I am sure the Caxton Legal Service will provide sound advice, but right now we do not know if the new arrangement will ensure the same level of service to the same number of people."
“It may well be too little, too late."
“Mr Mander now claims that the commitment to fund Caxton Legal Centre to provide the service will ‘fulfil the LNP’s election promise to revitalise frontline service’ but at best he has restored what had been provided under Labor for many years and which was take away by the LNP in such an indiscriminate way,” she said.
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