Thursday, 3 August 2023

Southern Metropolitan Region

Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:43): (310) My constituency question is for the Minister for Consumer Affairs, and it is regarding short-term accommodation rentals. My constituent Rocco is an owner and resident in an apartment complex in St Kilda, where short-stay rentals are being used regularly to host parties where drug- and/or alcohol-fuelled guests engage in antisocial behaviour. These parties are on a regular basis, and they are having a serious impact on the quality of life of the permanent residents of the building and surrounding community. This situation has made Rocco and other residents fear for their safety. He is very concerned that the current regulatory framework is not working and that if this practice continues largely unchecked by authorities, including the local council and police, then the safety concerns will increase. None of the 50 applications to VCAT since 2019 involving short-term accommodation disputes have been successful. So I ask the minister if he can please attend a meeting with local residents to discuss these concerns and explain what the government will do to address the issues raised.