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Tenant Rights


A family of tenants in their front yard.

Short Stay Accommodation - Effect on Rental Market

Tasmania is the most savage, unaffordable rental market in the nation and we have the fastest growing rate of homelessness.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  24 May 2023


A family of tenants in their front yard.

Rental Affordability Snapshot an Indictment on Rockliff Liberals

Anglicare’s annual Rental Affordability Snapshot, released today, has again highlighted the depths of the state’s rental crisis

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  27 Apr 2023


Air View of Houses

Rent Stress Confirms Need for Liberals, Labor to Support Greens’ Bill

It's time for the Liberal and Labor parties to get on board with the Greens' Bill to fix the state's rental laws.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  13 Oct 2022


Legislation, Clause Being Highlighted

Residential Tenancy (Rental Market Reform) Amendment Bill 2021

The Residential Tenancy (Rental Market Reform) Amendment Bill 2021 makes four overdue reforms to the Residential Tenancy Act of 1997.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  24 Aug 2022


Houses, Construction

Housing Challenges - Legislative Action

According to the latest data from your department, the social housing waiting list has achieved a new high of 4453 applications.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  24 Aug 2022


A family of tenants in their front yard.

Select Committee - Private Rental Market

We have tried in this place a number of times to get parliament to take the issue of soaring, unjustifiable rent increases seriously.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  17 Aug 2022


A family of tenants in their front yard.

Greens Back Tenants Union Calls to Give Renters a Fair Go

The Greens support the Tenants Union of Tasmania’s push to reform the outdated and unfair Residential Tenancy Act 1997.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  10 Aug 2022


Dogs, Happy, Poking Heads Through Gap in Fence

Tasmania Should Follow Queensland’s Lead on Pets in Rental Homes

Pets are beloved companions and family members. People who choose to have furry companions shouldn’t be refused housing on that basis.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  5 Jul 2022


Houses, Construction

State Development, Construction and Housing – Rental Affordability

That would be an amazing achievement, minister, if you could pull that off, particularly given the track record.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  7 Jun 2022


Parliament House, Tasmania

Workplace Safety and Consumer Affairs – Tasmanian Residential Rental Property Owners Association

Did the $100 000 grant funding to TRRPOA have any obligations, reporting requirements or KPIs of any kind attached or was it no strings attached?

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  6 Jun 2022


Houses, Construction

Premier’s Land Tax Lies

Peter Gutwein farcically claims his land tax gift to investors will bring down rents, he was, of course, unable to explain.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  1 Mar 2022


A family of tenants in their front yard.

Estimates Reply – Attorney-General

On 7 May, Ms Louise Elliot established an 'Elliot for Council' page. On 13 May this year, TRPPOA applied for funding.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  16 Sep 2021


Air View of Houses

Tasmanian Residential Rental Property Owners Association

The Tasmanian Residential Rental Property Owners Association spent much of the state election promoting the Liberal Party and its candidate, Simon Behrakis.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  15 Sep 2021


Air View of Houses

Greens Table Legislation to Protect Tenants

The Greens tabled the Residential Tenancy (Rental Market Reform) Amendment Bill 2021 in Parliament today.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  30 Jun 2021


Air View of Houses

Greens Champion a Fair Go for Tenants

We were proud to release our ‘A Fair Go for Tenants’ policy, which control rents, stops dodgy leases, make better allowances for pets & bans no-cause evictions.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  4 Apr 2021


Air View of Houses

Residential Rent Increases

The ACT model, which is a modest policy approach of rent increases being restrained to CPI plus 10 per cent of CPI, has been in place since 1997.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  24 Mar 2021


Air View of Houses

Residential Tenancy (Rent Control) Amendment Bill 2021

The Residential Tenancy (Rent Control) Amendment Bill 2021 replaces the current unworkable rent control provisions in the Residential Tenancy Act of 1997.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  24 Mar 2021


Air View of Houses

Struggling Tenants Need Labor’s Support

Tasmanian tenants need Labor’s support to protect them from the massive, unreasonable rent hikes they are facing. 

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  22 Mar 2021


Air View of Houses

Tasmanian Rental Affordability Worst in Nation

The Real Estate Institute of Australia’s latest Housing Affordability Report provides yet more evidence of the deepening housing crisis in Tasmania.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  12 Mar 2021


Air View of Houses

Perhaps Minister Archer Should Talk to Tenants?

If Elise Archer MP thinks everything is fine for renters, perhaps she should try talking to one of the thousands of Tasmanians struggling to afford their rent.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  1 Mar 2021


Homeless Man

Liberals Must Support SafeSpace

SafeSpace say the commercial real estate boom and their financial limitations are impacting their ability to find a new location. 

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  25 Feb 2021


Homeless Man

Deloitte Report Confirms Need to Keep Tenancy Protections in Place

The Deloitte Economic Business Outlook confirms the end of JobKeeper, along with JobSeeker supplements, will hurt Tasmania more than other states & territories.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  18 Jan 2021


Air View of Houses

Building and Construction – Genuine or Just Evictions

A Cabinet decision from 24 August 2020 records that Cabinet deliberated on the material submission in relation to the Residential Tenancy Amendment Bill 2020.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  25 Nov 2020


Legislation, Clause Being Highlighted

Housing – Residential Tenancy Act Proposed Changes

Why was a decision made to weaken the tenancy protections and remove the 'genuine or just' provision?

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  25 Nov 2020


Air View of Houses

Archer and Jaensch Both Responsible for Decision to Weaken Tenancy Laws

Minister Archer, today refused to reveal the reason for her proposal to strip essential tenancy protections from the Residential Tenancy Act. 

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Media Release  |  14 Oct 2020


Air View of Houses

Residential Tenancy Act - Actions of Minister

It has now been established in black and white that the Attorney-General was part of a pre COVID-19 decision that would have made it easier to evict tenants.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  14 Oct 2020


Air View of Houses

Community Sector Calls on Jaensch to Rule Out Tenancy Changes

Community sector organisations working at the front line of housing disadvantage have written to Housing Minister, Roger Jaensch, today calling on him to rule o

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  9 Oct 2020


House of Assembly, Tasmania

Jaensch is Trying to Gaslight Tasmanians over Cabinet Decision

Finally out of hiding from the media for a week, Roger Jaensch told ABC Mornings, ‘no decision was made’ to weaken tenancy protections prior to the pandemic. 

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  2 Oct 2020


Parliament House, Tasmania

Gutwein Mired in Jaensch Stench

Yesterday, we received a letter from Premier Gutwein trying to blame the Greens for the situation in which his government has found itself.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  26 Sep 2020


Air View of Houses

Residential Tenancy Amendment (Covid-19) Bill 2020

What we have seen in this House today is one of the worst, most disrespectful examples of a minister of the Crown denying reality.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  24 Sep 2020


Legislation, Clause Being Highlighted

No Confidence in Minister for Housing

The minister has misled the House over a serious matter of fairness and reasonableness in his portfolio.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  24 Sep 2020


Parliament House, Tasmania

Residential Tenancy Act Cabinet Decision

Minister Jaensch misleads the House over a Cabinet decision to change the Residential Tenancy Act to remove 'genuine or just' requirement for evictions.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  24 Sep 2020


Parliament House, Tasmania

Gutwein Government Abuses Power to Cover up Lies

This morning in Question Time, we asked the Human Services Minister if a decision was made to change the law to make it easier to evict tenants.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  24 Sep 2020


Air View of Houses

Tenant Protection Extension Welcome

Tasmanians living in rental homes will warmly welcome today’s announcement of extended residential rental protections and the Rent Relief Fund.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  4 Sep 2020


Air View of Houses

Rent Relief Fund Must Be Extended

With borders closed until December, and federal income support to soon be cut, thousands of Tasmanians will be in financial hardship for months to come.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  28 Aug 2020


Air View of Houses

Rent Protections

There is no question that in the community right now there are people living in private rental properties who have been comforted by the stay on rent increases.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  25 Aug 2020


Air View of Houses

Government Must Listen to Struggling Tenants

The Gutwein Government needs to listen to Tasmanian tenants and act immediately to extend residential rental protections beyond the 30 September deadline. 

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  26 Aug 2020


Air View of Houses

COVID Rental Protections Must Be Extended

The government must recognise the ongoing difficulties faced by Tasmanian tenants and extend the state’s residential rental protections beyond October 1.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  14 Aug 2020


Air View of Houses

Rent Relief Fund Welcome

The Gutwein Government has today responded to the consistent advocacy on the part of the housing sector and the Greens for strong rent relief.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  19 May 2020


Air View of Houses

COVID-19 Commercial and Residential Tenancy Protections

We recognise this state has moved to freeze evictions and rent increases for residential tenants.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  6 May 2020


Air View of Houses

Greens Welcome Tenant Support Fund

In a pandemic emergency it’s essential that everyone has a secure and affordable place to call home.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  6 May 2020


Air View of Houses

COVID-19 Rent Freeze Welcome

Residential tenants can breathe a sigh of relief after the Premier’s announcement today of a freeze on rent increases.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  22 Apr 2020


Air View of Houses

Rent Capping

We all know, the evidence is there right in front of us, that Hobart is now the least affordable capital city in Australia.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  7 Aug 2019


Air View of Houses

Rent Increases - Regulation

The Tenants' Union of Tasmania makes it clear that as a result of the housing crisis some landlords are gouging tenants, which is driving up homelessness rates.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  6 Aug 2019


Air View of Houses

Estimates Reply - Minister Courtney

The Residential Tenancy Act, as the Government would know, is an act which has many parts of it that need to be updated.

Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  12 Jun 2019


Supreme Court, Hobart, Tasmania

Liberals' Housing Protection Racket

The Liberals have used their numbers once again to prevent debate on the capacity of another failing Minister. This time, Housing Minister, Roger Jaensch. 

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  12 Jun 2019


Air View of Houses

Estimates Reply - Minister Jaensch

There is a surge in the budget allocation that runs out next year for child safety services.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  11 Jun 2019


Supreme Court, Hobart, Tasmania

Premier and Housing Minister Dig In Over Unfair Evictions

The full bench of the Supreme Court last week upheld an earlier ruling that Housing Tasmania tenants are entitled to natural justice. 

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Media Release  |  11 Jun 2019


Air View of Houses

Residential Tenancy Amendment Bill 2018

I raise with the minister a number of questions about the Residential Tenancy Act because there is unfinished business in this legislation.

Cassy O'Connor MP  |  Parliamentary Activity  |  18 Sep 2018


Air View of Houses

Tenants' Minimum Standards Reform Stalled

The Attorney General has failed to commit to a deadline for declaring the amendments to the Residential Tenancy Act 1997.

Nick Mckim  |  Media Release  |  9 Sep 2014