Month: February 2023

NSW Labor will deliver fairer rental rules for renters and owners by providing more certainty as well as reducing the upfront moving costs for renters. 

A NSW Labor Government will allow renters to directly transfer bonds from one property to another. 

These changes will also provide greater clarity on the circumstances in which a lease can end.

Portable bonds

A NSW Labor Government will streamline the rental bond process to allow renters to directly transfer bonds from one property to another, while ensuring owners still have access to funds they may need.

Currently, many renters must find thousands of dollars for a bond for a new property before their existing bond has been refunded.

This leaves renters out of pocket up to several thousand dollars, for up to several weeks. It places many renters in financial stress and forces some to take out personal loans.

The NSW Tenants Union estimates the basic costs of moving home is around $4,000, without taking into account renters being out of pocket for weeks while they wait for their bond to be refunded.

Yet recent data shows that one in three people would need to go into debt to cover an unexpected $600 payment, and one in 10 simply wouldn’t be able to cover it.

The NSW Rental Bond Board will still hold bonds on trust. But it will allow those bonds to be held on trust for the new property, while also ensuring the board can collect against it on behalf of owners for outstanding debt accrued by renters for property damage.

As a result, no owners will be left out of pocket from these changes.

The government has previously tried and failed to implement similar provisions. Despite legislation introduced in 2018, many renters still don’t have access to portable bonds, at a time of record rent increases and severe cost of living pressures.

Reasonable grounds for ending a lease

Labor will clearly outline the grounds on which a lease may be terminated and in effect bring an end to no-ground evictions.

A NSW Labor Government will work closely with stakeholder and advocacy groups to develop a list of reasonable grounds for an owner to end a tenancy, including minimum notice to vacate a property.

Owners will of course retain common sense rights to evict those who are breaking the law, damaging property or not paying rent.  

Reasonable grounds for eviction are already in place in Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania and the ACT – and these changes would modernise New South Wales’ rental laws.

Renting in New South Wales

Around one third of New South Wales residents live in rented properties – or 944,585 households.

Median rent in the state has increase almost ten per cent between 2016 and 2021 – from $386 to $420.

Over 35 per cent of tenanted households in New South Wales were in rental stress. (They had rent payments greater than 30 per cent of household income).

Chris Minns, NSW Labor Leader, said:

Anyone who rents in Sydney knows just how anxious and challenging a process it can be to find suitable accommodation, never mind the significant costs associated with moving.

“This is a sensible cost of living measure to help ease the pressure on the over 30 per cent of people in New South Wales currently renting.

 “These changes will create a fairer rental regime in this state by providing greater certainty as well as flexibility for both renters and owners.”

Courtney Houssos, NSW Shadow Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation, said:

“Moving house is considered one of life’s most stressful events. These changes will give renters and owners more certainty, allowing renters to build a home while also protecting owners.”

“Introducing reasons for eviction will update and modernise New South Wales’ rental laws and bring us in line with most other states.”

Rose Jackson, NSW Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness, said:

“There is a direct relationship between our unfair rental laws and increases in housing stress and homelessness. Ending unfair no grounds evictions will provide certainty to the overwhelming  majority of tenants who do the right thing that they have a place to call home.

“More and more people are renting – and renting for life. As our housing market changes, we need to update and modernize our laws to ensure we are getting the balance right.”

NSW Police are pleased with the behaviour of the overwhelming majority of revellers and supporters, with this year’s Mardi Gras parade conducted in perfect weather conditions.

Operation Commander, Assistant Commissioner Anthony Cooke, said with minor exceptions, the crowd was well-behaved and the 45th Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade proceeded yesterday (Saturday 26 February 2023), largely without incident.

Operation Mardi Gras 2023 incorporated a high-visibility policing operation partnering with stakeholders including parade organisers as well as governmental departments and agencies including Destination NSW, the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Transport for NSW, Sydney Trains, NSW Ambulance, Fire and Rescue NSW, and City of Sydney.

More than 900 officers were deployed into the field, comprising general duties officers attached to police area commands and police districts from across NSW, along with specialist officers from the Public Order and Riot Squad, Operations Support Group, Mounted Unit, Dog Unit, PolAir, Licensing Police, Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, and Police Transport Command.

The NSW Police Force was once again represented in the Mardi Gras celebrations, a parade tradition since 1998.

One police officer suffered a suspected broken nose during an arrest in Oxford Street while a second officer suffered grazes and a black eye after being assaulted while enroute to Moore Park. Inquiries are continuing to identify those responsible.

Police arrested four people for offences including assault police.

As World Pride events continue this week, police are urging all participants to celebrate safely and to watch out for their mates.

In more great news for the environment, the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government has protected another 55,220 hectares of land in perpetuity.

Minister for Environment James Griffin said this is the largest parcel of land ever protected through a funded conservation agreement with the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust (BCT).

“Gayini Nimmie Caira in the State’s south west is one of the most ecologically significant parts of Australia, and at 55,220 hectares, this new conservation area is massive – equivalent to about 29,700 Sydney Cricket Grounds,” Mr Griffin said.

“Through the NSW BCT, we’ve entered into a funded conservation agreement with the owners of the property, the Nari Nari Tribal Council, to help them protect the important biodiversity and cultural values of this part of their property forever.

“Gayini Nimmie Caira hosts internationally significant wetlands and a vast array of threatened and endangered species like the Plains Wanderer, Southern Bell Frog and various water bird species that travel here from far and wide to mate.

“This is fantastic news for the environment becuse it’s the largest ever area being protected through this kind of conservation agreement, and brings the total amount of private land being protected through the NSW BCT to more than 2.3 million hectares across the State.

“About 70 per cent of Australia’s land is privately owned or managed, which is why conservation agreements like these are so important.”

The total size of the Gayini Nimmie Caira property is 88,000 hectares, between Hay and Balranald in the Murrumbidgee Valley, adjacent to Yanga National Park.

Nari Nari Tribal Council chairperson Jamie Woods said Gayini Nimmie Caira is a rich cultural landscape, supporting Aboriginal people for tens of thousands of years.

“Nari Nari Tribal Council is proud to be leading the way in cultural land management, with the announcement of this groundbreaking agreement,” Mr Woods said.

“We have invested considerable time, knowledge and effort to create a unique agreement with the NSW BCT, putting the protection of culture and country at the centre of the work we do.

“There are footprints across Gayini Nimmie Caira where Aboriginal people used targeted interventions to promote the productivity of the land, supporting fish, bird and vegetation growth.”

Minister Griffin launched the BCT’s co-investment partnership plans program in 2022, with the aim of further accelerating private land conservation efforts.

This agreement with Nari Nari Tribal Council is the first co-investment partnership under those plans, complemented financially by The Nature Conservancy.

BCT Chairperson Niall Blair said this investment protects Gayini Nimmie Caira for conservation and cultural outcomes now and into the future.

“The NSW BCT is proud to play such a critical role in protecting the State’s biodiversity through annual payments, in perpetuity, to Nari Nari Tribal Council,” Mr Blair said.

Since establishing the NSW BCT in 2017, the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government has committed $70 million a year, or $350 million over five years, for private land conservation across the State.

This is a record investment in conservation efforts for NSW and has so far helped to protect at least 122 threatened species and 22 threatened ecological communities.

Find out more: www.bct.nsw.gov.au/

The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government has committed to preserving the historic and heritage-listed Roxy Theatre for the people of NSW, announcing funding through the $5 billion WestInvest fund to secure the site as an arts and cultural space.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said the WestInvest funding was a clear sign of the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government’s commitment to Western Sydney with large scale projects that will improve liveability by creating more public spaces, cultural, sporting and entertainment opportunities.

“People across NSW deserve greater access to our cultural history and the Roxy is a site that should be retained and preserved so future generations can enjoy it,” Mr Perrottet said

“Through the $5 billion Westinvest fund, we are investing in infrastructure that will create jobs and provide more opportunities for people in Western Sydney to enjoy cultural experiences.”  

The funding commitment includes the development of a final business case that will present government with options to secure the future of the Roxy for the people of NSW.

Minister for the Arts Ben Franklin said securing the Roxy as an arts and cultural space means the Western Sydney community would have access to an important piece of the state’s history.

“Paramatta is one of our fastest growing regions, and alongside the Powerhouse and the renewed Riverside Theatre, the Roxy has the potential to form part of a new cultural hub providing greater opportunities for the community to access world-class arts offerings,” Mr Franklin said.

Member for Parramatta Geoff Lee said the Government is responding to the community’s concerns for the Roxy site.

“We have listened to the community, and the feedback that demands that we afford this heritage site protection from overdevelopment. What the community and the Government want are more public amenities that will benefit the community, that will attract visitors, and that will be enjoyed by people for generations to come,” Dr Lee said.

Through the $5 billion WestInvest fund, the NSW Government has committed over $345 million in funding for arts and culture in Western Sydney, including funding for the future of the Roxy Theatre, an extension to the Campbelltown Arts Centre, a new Blacktown Arts and Cultural Centre and a new Burwood Urban Park and Arts and Cultural Centre.

The NSW Government will now begin to investigate potential pathways to secure the future of the Roxy Theatre with the current owner, subject to proper due diligence and any final decision being conditional on Final Business Case approval.

People living in apartment blocks, retirement villages and caravan parks are among the 150,000 energy customers set to benefit from tough new rules to lower energy bills and increase consumer protections for people living in embedded networks.

The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government today announced its Embedded Network Action Plan to cut energy bills, which includes:

• Introducing a maximum, IPART determined price for gas and for hot and chilled water supplied through embedded networks.
• Initiating an IPART review into electricity prices in embedded networks, to recommend whether the maximum price within embedded networks should be set below the Commonwealth’s default market offer.
• Initiating an IPART review on whether the NSW Government should ban the establishment of new hot and chilled water embedded networks.

The NSW Government will also write to the Australian Energy Regulator requesting that it only approve new electricity and gas embedded networks that are in the interests of consumers, and offering to initiate changes to the National Electricity and Gas Rules if necessary in order to achieve that outcome.

Treasurer and Minister for Energy Matt Kean said that embedded networks have failed to deliver for many energy consumers, adding complexity and holding back customers from getting the best deals the market has to offer.

“Whether you’re living in a free-standing home, or in an apartment block, caravan park or retirement village, every family should be able to access essential services at a fair price,” Mr Kean said.  

“These reforms will help ensure that embedded network customers are no longer disadvantaged simply because of where they choose to live.”

Embedded networks are private energy networks which on-sell energy from retailers to households and small businesses in multiple premises like apartment blocks, retirement villages, caravan parks and shopping centres.  

The Energy and Water Ombudsman estimated 95,400 households lived in residences within electricity embedded networks and there are a further 64,000 hot water embedded network customers.

The number of embedded networks in Australia has increased recently due to a new business model where developers outsource the ownership of the energy infrastructure beyond the connection point with the electricity or gas distributor.

This can lower building costs for developers and in return the third party can become the monopoly provider of energy to the building.

These reforms build on recent work by the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government to:

• Put downward pressure on bills through delivery of the Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap
• Provide a range of energy rebates including rebates for low income households, family tax benefit recipients and seniors, along with energy account payment assistance
• Commit to $250 rebates under the NSW Energy Bill Saver program for households who compare their current energy deal