TAS maintained its commitment to working to address the structural and systemic problems affecting tenants in policy and legislative arenas in 1998/99. The issues raised by TAS are identified through contact with tenants and community agencies and are a critical part of TAS's advocacy role. TAS aims to ensure that tenants have access to adequate legislative protection and to secure, appropriate and affordable housing. This work generally occurs via involvement in relevant committees, research and submissions in response to government reviews and consultations, and initiating action on issues which arise through our direct service and community education and training work.
TAS was represented on the following committees/organisation in 1998/99:
Research and/or submissions were provided on the following issues during 1998/99:
Goods and Services Tax (GST) - TAS collected information on the likely impact of GST on housing, particularly private rental accommodation and boarding and lodging and caravan park accommodation. TAS also contributed to the NATO submission to the Senate Inquiry into a New Tax System and prepared a joint submission to the Inquiry with Shelter WA. TAS and Shelter also appeared at a Senate Inquiry public hearing to speak to its submission. Follow up work has been undertaken in seeking changed GST arrangements for caravan park tenants and boarders and lodgers.
Tenant Databases - TAS met with the ACCC concerning this issue and continued to lobby for stronger protections for tenants in the regulation of databases through NATO.
Private Rental Research - TAS has actively promoted the need for private rental research. The need has been linked to social housing provision and planning, as well as broader policy directions of the Commonwealth and State governments in increasingly relying on the private rental market to meet the needs of low income housing consumers. TAS has raised this issue in HAC, Homeswest, and a housing sector meeting with the Commonwealth organised by the Australian Council of Social Services, with Shelter WA and WACOSS.
National Competition Policy Review into the Real Estate and Business Agents Act 1978 - TAS prepared a submission to this Review and urged for continued regulation of the Real Estate sector in relation to leasing as a matter of public interest.
Ministry of Housing - TAS submitted on the proposed structure and function of the new Ministry of Housing and engaged in follow up monitoring and comment on the Ministry's development and introduction via HAC.
Homeswest Policy - TAS provided comments to Homeswest's 1998 Rental Policy Review. Input was also provided to the Maintenance Policy Review via Shelter WA. TAS was also instrumental in developing and promoting changes to the Domestic Violence Policy as part of a working party. Homeswest has since adopted a number of the proposed changes. TAS provided comments on Homeswest's draft Priority Assistance Pamphlet. A submission on Homeswest's proposed Bond Assistance changes was also developed with Shelter WA.
Homeswest Redevelopment - TAS provided input on this issue through its working party involvement as well as raising individual tenants issues as and when appropriate.
SHAP Review - TAS provided input into this review by Homeswest.
WACOSS Poverty Commission - Housing Research Project - TAS has been involved in a Steering Committee for this WACOSS project with Shelter WA, Centrecare, Anglicare and the Community Housing Coalition of WA. The Project undertaking WA research on housing and sustainable communities and is ongoing.
Law Society Courts Symposium - TAS represented tenants issues with the Small Disputes Division of the Local Court at the Law Society Courts Symposium.
TAS also continued to make submissions on particular tenancy issues to relevant agencies and bodies.