Mr TIM JAMES (Willoughby) (11:51): My question is directed to the Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading. Just 32 days after no-grounds eviction reforms began, the Government scrapped the evidence requirement for evictions on the grounds of renovations. Some 29 respected organisations, from community centres to legal and charity groups, say they were not consulted and want the safeguard reinstated. Why is the Minister walking away from his rental reforms and turning his back on renters?
Mr ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG (Macquarie Fields—Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading, Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology, Minister for Building, and Minister for Corrections) (11:51): I thank the shadow Minister for the question. I am always delighted to talk about rental reform. We have always tried to achieve balance and fairness with our rental reforms, making them fit for purpose for a more modern rental market. In 12 years—that is 144 months—those opposite did nothing at all.
The SPEAKER: Opposition members will come to order.
Mr ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG: Our reforms came into force on 19 May. We are not walking back our rental reforms at all. If those opposite want to talk about consultation, we did extensive rounds of consultation through the Rental Commissioner.
The SPEAKER: I call the member for Davidson to order for the first time.
Mr ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG: If those opposite want to talk about rental reform, I say bring it on. Let us compare the pair. For 12 years there was indifference, no initiative and no impetus; there was nothing. Those opposite did not listen, they did not act, and now they are crying poor about how they are such—
Mr Tim James: Point of order—
The SPEAKER: The Minister will resume his seat. The member for Willoughby rises on a point of order.
Mr Tim James: The question directly referred to one specific ground for eviction that stakeholders speak of. I ask that the Minister be relevant to the question.
The SPEAKER: The Minister understands the question. He will continue his answer. The Minister has the call.
Mr ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG: The Government will always listen to stakeholders, as we have done since we commenced our rental reforms. We will always try to make any reform balanced, fair and easy to implement. The fact is that this Government has the best track record on rental reform. For the first time in decades, we have addressed no‑grounds evictions, made it easier for renters to have pets, limited rent increases to once a year—
Ms Kellie Sloane: Point of order—
The SPEAKER: The Minister will resume his seat. The member for Vaucluse rises on a point of order.
Ms Kellie Sloane: The point of order is taken under Standing Order 129, relevance. The Minister needs physiotherapy that backflip was so big.
The SPEAKER: Order! I direct the member for Vaucluse to remove herself from the Chamber under Standing Order 249A until the end of question time.
[Pursuant to standing order the member for Vaucluse left the Chamber at 11:54.]
Mr ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG: Let us compare silence and inaction with action and real reform. We have addressed no-grounds evictions, made it easier for renters to have pets, limited rent increases to once per year, banned renters from having to pay for their own background checks, given $8.4 million to the Rental Taskforce to implement our rental reforms—
Mr Tim James: Mr Speaker—
The SPEAKER: The Minister's time has expired.
Mr Tim James: I seek an extension.
The SPEAKER: An extension of time is denied. The Minister has resumed his seat. We will proceed to the next question. I call the member for Camden.
