Yesterday (20/06/18) in the Legislative Assembly, NSW Greens MP Jenny Leong’s motion recognising Housing as a Human Right passed the NSW lower house. HomelessNSW applauded the move: “Currently less than 1% of rental properties are affordable for people on low incomes and there are over 60,000 people on the social housing waiting list so we are hopeful to see this inspirational resolution be followed by concrete action in addressing this issue.” A day earlier, NSW Greens MP Ja

Yesterday in the Legislative Assembly, State MPs stepped forward to criticise Minister Matthew Kean’s Fair Trading Bill that will see Online Holiday Rental Platforms have access to NSW Residential Housing. Criticism of the Bill was at times strident, with many real areas of concern raised. In the end however, Labor’s Shadow Minister for Fair Trading Yasmin Catley concluded her speech by merely saying: “Labor will not oppose the bill, but it reserves its judgement in the ot

NSW Minister Matt Kean’s proposed Amendment of the Fair Trading Act 1987 contains a Clause - 54E(2) - that states: “For the avoidance of doubt, subsection (1) does not in itself authorise the use of residential premises for the purposes of short-term rental accommodation if that use is prohibited by an environment planning instrument.” Our homes have all been constructed and fall directly under environmental planning instruments that clearly state that they are for Residenti

The NSW Department of Fair Trading’s website now carries news of plans to effectively retrospectively rezone NSW Strata Buildings and all housing in R2 Low Density Residential Areas. State Government Ministers will introduce new Planning Laws to facilitate this. Further details can be found on the Department of Fair Trading’s website or by clicking here. Airbnb’s Chris Lehane said the changes in NSW “will actually help the company”. Japan: “With no choice but to comply, Ai

Last December, Chief of Staff for the Minister for Local Government, the Hon. Gabrielle Upton, wrote that Short-Term Tourist/Visitor Rentals were “under the portfolio responsibilities of the Hon. Anthony Roberts, the Minister for Planning”. The Hon. Gabrielle Upton had earlier declined to intervene when Local Government Authorities refuse to enforce Residential Zoning legislation. Yesterday a Canberra Times report set off an alarm bell: ACT government rakes in profit from o

NSW Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation Matthew Kean has announced in the NSW Parliament his proposed sweeping legislative changes that will facilitate the financial objectives of an unknown number of short-term holiday letting platforms. These platform operators – almost all foreign owned - seek direct and full access to NSW housing. (Click Hansard transcript, go to June Wed 6 – pages 9-11.) A University of NSW Report concluded in 2015 that there were at point in

Airbnb’s Country Manager Sam McDonagh told ABC Radio National’s PM program (05JUN18): “The NSW Parliament has effectively ‘green lit’ (sic) home sharing in NSW...” Airbnb’s McDonagh also told The Australian newspaper: “Australia is the most penetrated (Airbnb) market in the world.” Airbnb’s Head of Global Policy and Communications Chris Lehane says he “welcomes restrictions” – what Ministers Anthony Roberts and Matt Kean claim is a “crack down” on Airbnb’s activities plus tho

The NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into the adequacy of legislation covering short-term letting of homes ignored completely our current legislation, case law, court orders and NCAT orders. Subsequent to the Parliamentary Inquiry, the Committee Manager confirmed in writing that no Legal advice was ever sought. Again, “…no Legal advice was sought” during the preparation of Ministers Kean and Roberts’ “Options Paper". Last December, Minister Matt Kean called for evidence of “collusi