Leader of the Opposition

LIA FINOCCHIARO MLA
​
MEDIA RELEASE
15th April 2020

Government should go one step further and scrap pet rental laws altogether
​Instead of delaying the assent of new laws that will remove property owners’ rights to refuse tenants requests to have pets in rental properties, the Labor Government should scrap the changes altogether. The delay is an admission that the clause is fraught with problems and is extremely concerning for landlords.
 The Labor Government also needs to come clean on proposed arrangements for owners and renters dealing with COVID-19, Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro said today.
 “Just delaying the controversial pet law changes isn’t good enough. The Government should repeal the legislative changes altogether. These changes clearly infringe on the property rights of Territorians who have worked hard to purchase an investment property and want to maintain it,” Mrs Finocchiaro said.
 “The fact the Labor Government is now delaying the changes from coming into effect smacks of hypocrisy. If the laws aren’t good enough to be implemented now, they aren’t good enough at all.
 “The Real Estate Institute of the NT has thousands of signatures on a petition against this clause and the Labor Government’s own scrutiny committee recommended the clause not be passed into law. The Labor Government arrogantly ignores Territorians, to push ahead with its own agenda.
 “Furthermore, property owners and renters need certainty about any further changes to the Residential Tenancies Act. Owners and renters need to know what will be expected of them during COVID-19 and beyond.
 “The Labor Government needs to be open and transparent with Territorians about any changes and what they will mean so people can prepare accordingly. This ‘closed door’ attitude needs to end and the public needs information.
 “We don’t have confidence that the Labor Government is going to strike the right balance ensuring that there is flexibility and support for those in financial hardship as a result of COVID-19.
 “If we are going back into Parliament to pass laws to support tenancies during this pandemic then the Labor Government should repeal the pets clause while we are at it,” Mrs Finocchiaro concluded.
ENDS

"Only together can we build a better Territory for you and your family.”

- LIA FINOCCHIARO MLA, Leader of the Country Liberal Party and member for Spillett