Residential tenancies
Gabrielle DE VIETRI (Richmond) (14:18): I thank the Minister for Renters for that introduction to my question, which is for the Premier. Premier, new rental data this week has come out. It shows that 38 per cent of evictions here in Victoria are because renters cannot afford the rent. For years and just today this Labor government has claimed to support renters while overseeing skyrocketing rents and forcing renters to lose their home, to cut back on food and heating or to make impossible decisions between going to the doctor or paying their rent. I have asked every Premier in this house over this term the same question, and I am asking this Premier now: will you finally freeze and cap rents?
Ben CARROLL (Niddrie – Premier) (14:19): I thank the member for Richmond for her question. In her question she actually outlined the difference between Labor and the Greens. We are a party of action; they are a party of commentary. We just heard the minister outline all the reforms that have happened for renters under Labor. They talk about cost of living – free kinder, free TAFE, half-price public transport. I am proud to be a Premier with a Minister for Homelessness.
Gabrielle DE VIETRI (Richmond) (14:19): Do you know what I am proud of? I am proud of all these reforms that only came about because of the Greens. That is why Labor acted. These reforms are only working if renters are protected, and the truth is that right now 70 per cent of renters live in fear of asking for their basic standards to be met, because they know that their landlord will give them a rent increase in retaliation. The Premier still expects a renter to risk taking their landlord to court just to see if their rent increase is perhaps excessive. As long as your landlord can punish you with a rent increase, why does the Premier think unlimited rent increases are fair?