Ms DONNA DAVIS (Parramatta) (12:36): My question is addressed to the Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading. Will the Minister update the House on the Minns Labor Government's plan to make renting fairer in New South Wales?
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) (12:37): I thank the member for Parramatta for her question and for her strong advocacy for the 56 per cent of people in her electorate who rent. The Minns Labor Government is ending no-grounds evictions to make our rules fairer and clearer for both property owners and those who rent. More than two million people across New South Wales rent. More and more of our citizens are renting—33 per cent of the State. That is an increase of 17 per cent since 2016. This increase in renters is happening all across the State. Some areas are actually higher than the average of 33 per cent, like the 39 per cent of renters who live in the shadow Minister's electorate of Willoughby, the growing 47 per cent in the North Shore electorate, and the 41 per cent of renters in the Vaucluse electorate.
Renting is happening all across our communities. It is not the case anymore that renting is something that only students or young people do as a rite of passage. Increasingly, renting is the norm for young families and our frontline workers—those who look after us when we are unwell, who keep us safe on the streets, and who look after and teach our kids. We cannot have a situation where millions of families could have their lives up-ended by having to move house at any moment for no good reason. It is not only financially expensive but also extremely disruptive to their lives.
That is why the Government is moving ahead to make the system fairer and more modern. Under our proposed changes, landlords will still keep the right to take back their property, but they will have to provide a common sense reason for that. For instance, if a renter breaks the lease, does not pay the rent or damages the property, of course property owners can take back their property. If their families are moving in, they are renovating or demolishing the property, or if the property will not be a rental anymore or is being sold, then property owners have a right to that property.
The changes have followed a comprehensive consultation process. Over many months, more than 16,000 people across the State voiced their support for the changes that we are implementing. All States in the nation, except Western Australia, have put in place their own models to end no‑grounds evictions. I am proud to be a part of this Minns Labor Government, which is moving ahead with changes that work for New South Wales. Other States moved ahead and so are we. [Extension of time]
When trying to move on rental reform, we often hear the doom and gloom argument about investing in property. I inform the House that property investment has stayed strong. We have learnt a lot from the experiences of our other State colleagues. In fact, across all jurisdictions, investment lending as a proportion of total lending has increased. In Victoria, it is up 24 per cent; in South Australia, it is up 12 per cent; and in Queensland, it is up 18 per cent. In fact, CoreLogic states that the proposed changes will have minimal impact on investment. We want to deliver certainty and clarity to the rental market.
On top of ending no-grounds evictions, the Government is closing loopholes and modernising rental laws after 12 years of inaction. Today the Premier announced that we will close the loopholes that require renters to pay for their own background checks. Currently a number of technology apps being used ask renters to pay between $25 and $30 to do their own background checks—information that is already provided as part of a rental lease. Those optional charges come with the promise that applicants will "perhaps" be successful in securing a property. That is unfair and plain wrong. The Minns Government will change the laws to make it clear that renters cannot be charged for background checks.
The Government has done considered and measured work to bring our rental laws into the twenty‑first century and in line with the rest of the nation. The shadow Minister was right to tell the media after the announcement was made, "Why did it take so long?" Opposition members had 12 years to do something, but nothing happened in those 12 years. If they want to talk long, let us talk about 12 years of inaction. We are getting on with the change. Members on this side of the House are committed to easing housing pressures, and we are taking the responsibility to make sure life is easier for renters. That is our priority and the priority of the crossbench, and I hope that it is also the priority of our Opposition colleagues.
