Media Release
4 September 2014
Shadow Housing Minister Yvette D’Ath says the Newman Government
should stop “fiddling at the edges” and scrap its leave policy treating
public housing tenants as second-class citizens.
“The government has made very minor changes to the policy in the wake of the backlash its arrogant policy provoked after being exposed by the Labor Opposition,” Ms D’Ath said.
“The Newman LNP Government introduced its ‘temporary absence application’ policy in February requiring public housing tenants to apply for and have approved any leave that meant their dwelling would be vacant for any period of time."
“The leave was also capped at a maximum of four weeks a year, and any period longer than that would need to be drawn from the leave bank in future years. This is just an outrageous policy and treats public housing tenants like second-class citizens."
“It would not be tolerated in the private rental market, which is why the LNP used its huge majority to change the law allowing it to act like a 19th Century lord of the manor."
“The Labor Opposition has campaigned hard against this patronising and vindictive policy, raising the subject at the Budget Estimates hearings and running a petition to scrap the four-week absences policy."
“A new and only slightly changed version of the policy has been released online which keeps the maximum annual period of four weeks when tenants can be away."
“But public housing tenants did not have to let their local Housing Department office know they would be away until they were absent for more than seven consecutive days."
The window dressing also means public housing tenants will have to fill in a ‘temporary absence request’ form for approval only if they planned to be away for four weeks or more.
“This is just fiddling at the edges. It is mere window dressing. The arrogant LNP policy remains intact overall,” Ms D’Ath said.
“The entire policy should be scrapped, especially the vindictive four-week limit that is already causing anxiety among tenants needing to visit or care for sick relatives or friends."
“The Premier and his Minister are now engaged in a campaign to pretend they are not arrogant and callous."
“The mere existence of this leave policy shows what a shallow and misleading campaign they are waging."
“If they want to show they are listening, they should scrap the policy entirely."
“As long as people aren’t abusing the system, they should be permitted to take a break just like a tenant in a private rental would.”
“The government has made very minor changes to the policy in the wake of the backlash its arrogant policy provoked after being exposed by the Labor Opposition,” Ms D’Ath said.
“The Newman LNP Government introduced its ‘temporary absence application’ policy in February requiring public housing tenants to apply for and have approved any leave that meant their dwelling would be vacant for any period of time."
“The leave was also capped at a maximum of four weeks a year, and any period longer than that would need to be drawn from the leave bank in future years. This is just an outrageous policy and treats public housing tenants like second-class citizens."
“It would not be tolerated in the private rental market, which is why the LNP used its huge majority to change the law allowing it to act like a 19th Century lord of the manor."
“The Labor Opposition has campaigned hard against this patronising and vindictive policy, raising the subject at the Budget Estimates hearings and running a petition to scrap the four-week absences policy."
“A new and only slightly changed version of the policy has been released online which keeps the maximum annual period of four weeks when tenants can be away."
“But public housing tenants did not have to let their local Housing Department office know they would be away until they were absent for more than seven consecutive days."
The window dressing also means public housing tenants will have to fill in a ‘temporary absence request’ form for approval only if they planned to be away for four weeks or more.
“This is just fiddling at the edges. It is mere window dressing. The arrogant LNP policy remains intact overall,” Ms D’Ath said.
“The entire policy should be scrapped, especially the vindictive four-week limit that is already causing anxiety among tenants needing to visit or care for sick relatives or friends."
“The Premier and his Minister are now engaged in a campaign to pretend they are not arrogant and callous."
“The mere existence of this leave policy shows what a shallow and misleading campaign they are waging."
“If they want to show they are listening, they should scrap the policy entirely."
“As long as people aren’t abusing the system, they should be permitted to take a break just like a tenant in a private rental would.”
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