Ms KAREN McKEOWN (Penrith) (11:46): My question is addressed to the Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading. Will the Minister update the House on what steps the Government has taken to create a fairer, more modern rental market?
Mr ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG (Macquarie Fields—Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading, Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology, Minister for Building, and Minister for Corrections) (11:47): I thank the member for Penrith for her question. What a hardworking member she is. We were recently in her community for the first Community Cabinet meeting.
The SPEAKER: The member for North Shore will come to order.
Mr ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG: Those opposite have no chance at all of taking the electorate of Penrith from the current member in a few years time. Before I start, I send warm greetings to our Samoan friends. As the member for Macquarie Fields, I have a lot of Samoan Australians in my electorate. Balofa and fa'afetai for joining us today. Thank you very much. I particularly welcome the tone of the question from the member for Penrith because, as we all know, the rules governing our rental market are indeed outdated and quite unfair. The member knows her facts, and we are delivering on our promise to renters in her electorate, and in all electorates, whether they are on a short-term rental or a fixed agreement.
But there is a new class of renters. They are called the Liberal-Nationals, because they are permanent renters in opposition. They are going to be there for a very, very long time—permanent renters. But do not worry because our reforms are going to make those renters very comfortable. They can bring their pets to make sure their benches are very comfortable. And we will never, ever evict them from that space—do not worry.
As we know, renters are under enormous pressure in a very tight market.
I know my colleagues the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces and the Minister for Housing are working extremely hard to ease that pressure by increasing the rental supply. We know that increasing supply takes time, but that is why we are moving on rental reforms in the meantime. I also note that the reforms to rental policy have bipartisan support. During the election campaign, the Liberal-Nationals also supported changes to rental laws around no grounds evictions and data protection. It is good that there is bipartisan support.
The SPEAKER: There is too much general noise in the Chamber. The member for Willoughby will come to order. Opposition frontbench members will come to order. The member for Rockdale will come to order.
Mr ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG: I look forward to ensuring that Opposition members keep their word when the Government's reform is implemented in this House. The Government is taking a sensible, pragmatic approach to these reforms to make life easier for renters. That is why the Government has commissioned the State's first ever Rental Commissioner, Ms Trina Jones. That was a wonderful appointment. Trina is a fearless and pragmatic advocate for those in the rental space. She will encourage cooperation and fair engagement between renters and owners, and finally give renters in this State a voice about the system that affects so much of their lives. She will be crucial to implementing the Government's reform agenda to make room for— [Extension of time]
I thank the member for Penrith for requesting the extension. The challenge is not just about price. No doubt prices are high because of the lack of supply that has been built up over the past 12 years. Nevertheless, the challenge of renting is also about amenity. Price matters, but so does the standard of living. A third of the population rents in this State, and no doubt that percentage is even higher in the Sydney metro area. That is why the Minns Government is asking renters—after 12 years without a voice—owners and industry representatives for their views on the critical changes that are needed to make renting fairer and better.
We are asking the community for their views on ending no grounds evictions, by requiring that owners have a good reason to end a lease; making it easier for renters to have pets in their home; better protection for data and personal information provided by renters; and also strengthening some of the existing rules around rent increases, like making it clearer that rents can only go up once per year—which is already happening—for those on fixed agreements greater than two years. I am pleased to announce that so far 9,500 people across the State have already had their say through the online survey, and we received about 115 written submissions. No doubt more will come. I encourage renters and owners across the State to make their submissions by 11 August.
I want to be clear that we are consulting to make sure that we get those changes right. We are moving quickly, because this is an issue that is getting more urgent by the day. The people of New South Wales know that we cannot fix 12 years of inaction in just a matter of weeks. Renters did not have a voice in the last Government, but they sure do now. It is a high priority for us to make rental laws fairer. I know that it will take time, but I also know there is a sense of urgency in this Government to ensure that those who live and rent here will have a fairer system under a Minns Labor Government.
