Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria
Tim McCURDY (Ovens Valley) (12:28): My question is to the Minister for Consumer Affairs. In September 2023 the government announced Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria, a one-stop shop to resolve tenancy disputes. Over seven months later, nothing has been established. When will Victorian renters be able to access help via Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria?
Gabrielle WILLIAMS (Dandenong – Minister for Government Services, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Public and Active Transport) (12:28): I thank, very genuinely, the shadow minister for his question, because it is unusual to get a question in this place, particularly in consumer affairs, and it is nice to see the opposition finally taking an interest in an area that is of such great value to the constituents of all of us in this place. That goes to Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria, which the member has mentioned, but also our broader work as part of the housing statement. Much of that conversation around the housing statement has focused on getting more housing stock into the market, which we know is very, very important in terms of dealing with many of the other pressures that we know exist through the housing and rental markets, but there is also our work to ensure that renting is fairer for all Victorians. We made a number of commitments to that end as part of the housing statement, whether it be making renting fairer by restricting rent increases between successive fixed-term rental agreements, whether it be through banning all types of rental bidding, whether it be through protecting renters’ personal information –
James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, the question asked specifically when the Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria program would be set up, and I would ask you to bring the minister back to that specific question.
The SPEAKER: I cannot direct the minister how to answer a question. The question was quite specific. The minister will come back to the question.
Gabrielle WILLIAMS: The question related to a commitment we made as a part of the housing statement, which is the very thing I am talking to in outlining the suite of commitments that were made. I ran through a few of those and would have gone on to also talk about the commitment to extend notices of rent increases and notices to vacate from 60 to 90 days, as well as a range of initiatives that targeted our real estate agents sector and ensured better training and of course the commitment around Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria, which is a commitment to streamlining and making cheaper and fairer the rental dispute process for Victorian renters.
Our work is well underway in delivering on that entire package of reforms as a part of the housing statement. We will have more to say about that in due course, save to say that this is a significant body of work. I should also say I think it is fair to say, particularly in contrast to the position of the opposition, that our track record on delivering for renters speaks for itself: 130 rental reforms already delivered – opposed by those opposite, I must say – and many more underway which will come to this Parliament in due course. I look forward to the support of my shadow minister and all of his colleagues in that work, and I expect now, given his interest in this issue, that that support will be forthcoming when the time comes.
Tim McCURDY (Ovens Valley) (12:32): Will decisions made by Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria be appealable at VCAT?
Gabrielle WILLIAMS (Dandenong – Minister for Government Services, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Public and Active Transport) (12:32): Again, thank you to my Shadow Minister for Consumer Affairs for his further question on the important matter of Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria. What we have been very clear about in describing the function of Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria is that it will be faster, fairer and cheaper, encouraging earlier intervention and resolution of residential tenancy disputes and easing the pressure on VCAT. That is really important, because we know that VCAT can often be costly, and it can often be time-consuming for both renters and agents alike. RDRV will be designed to provide resolution strategies, information and conciliation services as a separate and complementary scheme to VCAT, and my department is working closely with VCAT on that operational detail.
Tim McCurdy: On a point of order, Speaker, on relevance, the question was: will it be appealable at VCAT?
The SPEAKER: The minister was being relevant to the question.
Gabrielle WILLIAMS: As I was saying, my department is currently working closely with VCAT on the operational detail of that new body, and while we are progressing that work we will also be working with stakeholders to make sure we get it right.