Richmond electorate
Gabrielle DE VIETRI (Richmond) (14:46): (226) My question is for the Attorney-General. Colin and his friends, who were renters in Abbotsford in a share house, have been waiting for two years now for their VCAT hearing so their bond can be returned. After vacating their share house in 2021 the landlord made a claim for their bond, arguing that they owed outstanding rent. Colin disputed the claim and their bond is now frozen. The last time they checked in with VCAT they were told there was no hearing date in sight. Landlords may have the resources to wait; renters do not. Too many renters that I hear from are choosing to give in to their landlords rather than face a costly, long and uncertain VCAT battle. Attorney, when will your government help renters like Colin and his friends by clearing the backlog at VCAT by ensuring that it is adequately resourced and preventing more cases from joining the VCAT queue by strengthening renters rights and giving landlords and renters certainty?