Fair go for Queensland tenants
We need your help to restore funding for TUQ and local tenant advice services.
Emergency funding for the Tenants’ Union of Queensland (TUQ) and local tenant advice services runs out on June 30, 2013. Tenant advice services will close unless the state government restores funding.
Most funding for the Tenants’ Union of Queensland (TUQ) and local tenant advice services previously came from interest on tenant bonds. Each year around 5 million dollars of bond interest was used to fund 28 community based tenant services, including TUQ.
At the same time over 30 million of tenant bond interest is used to fund the Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) each year. However the RTA is an impartial government authority and does not advocate tenant concerns or provide tenants with advice or advocacy support, assistance with writing letters or assistance with tribunal matters.
In Queensland 30% of people rent. TUQ, and 22 other community-based tenant advice services, assist over 80,000 tenants each year with free tenancy advice, support, and advocacy assistance . However these services will close on 30 June unless the Queensland government reinstates funding.
To get a fair go in the rental market Queensland tenants need access to free tenancy advice and advocacy support services. Funding for tenant services should be reinstated and tenant bond interest should continue to fund tenant support services in Queensland.
What can you do to help the campaign to restore funding for tenant advice services?
Write a letter or email your local state member of parliament, the Housing Minister, the Treasurer and the Premier to seek funding continuation from the Newman government – TUQ supporters letter 2013
Call the Housing Minister (07 3237 1832); the Treasurer (07 3224 6900), and the Premier (07 3224 4500) to seek reinstatement funding for the TUQ and TAAS services.
Send Facebook messages/questions or make a comment about funding for tenant advice services to these politicians:
http://www.facebook.com/TimManderMpEverton
http://www.facebook.com/TimNichollsMP
http://www.facebook.com/campbell.newman
Contact the media to voice your concerns or stories about how these services helped you or your friends/family – letters to the editor are very helpful.
Like us on Facebook http://on.fb.me/MW7QY4
Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/SaveTenantServs or http://bit.ly/MsPRIT
Spread the word, ask someone else to do all or some of these things
