TEENS FACE LNP PUBLIC HOUSING RENT SLUG

Media Release

Shadow Housing Minister, Jo-Ann Miller, says rent hikes for public housing tenants show the Newman Government is no better than the Abbott Government when it comes to breaking promises and making life tougher for low-income households.
“The Newman Government’s changes to its public housing rent policy mean higher rents for those in public housing but it also means fewer people will be eligible to access public housing,” Mrs Miller said.
“The LNP is even going to dip its hand deeper into the pockets of teenagers who may have a casual job at the local supermarket or hamburger shop."
“Under the changes 25 % of their income from casual jobs will be factored into rent calculations."
“This is Campbell Newman’s tax grab for teenagers’ pocket money."
“The LNP is going out of its way to make it harder for people to join the waiting list for housing because it is dropping the maximum eligible household income from around $80,000 to around $60,000."
“It is just a sneaky way to cut waiting lists by forcing people out of public housing when they can’t meet higher rents and making more people ineligible to join the waiting list."
“Including family benefit payments such as Family Tax Benefit B in rent calculations means higher rents for families already struggling to make ends meet thanks to Campbell Newman’s broken promises on the cost of living."
“The higher rents will hit people like our veterans who may be receiving various allowances for instance a pharmaceutical allowance."
“The new income test could mean people like single parents with several children are ineligible for public housing and even two disability pensioners who decide to share a unit could face a brick wall when it comes to accessing affordable accommodation."
“The LNP never told public housing tenants before the election it would jack up their rents, yet that is exactly what it is doing by changing its rental policy to grab more of the benefits paid to low-income earners."
“These rent rises follow a string of broken promises by the LNP including another rise in power bills of close to $200 for average families plus the callous cuts to low-income households inflicted by Tony Abbott's budget."

“Campbell Newman's government is no better that Tony Abbott's. There is nothing state and federal LNP governments won't do to make life harder for low-income Queenslanders,” Mrs Miller said.