Taking action to improve protections for long-term caravan park residents

The Tasmanian Government has released the Residential Parks Bill 2026 for consultation, which will provide stronger protections for long-term residents living in residential parks, including caravan parks and tourist parks.

The Bill will safeguard the rights of existing long-term residents, ensuring that they will be covered by stronger rights and protections.

It provides both a framework that regulates agreements for long-term residency in caravan parks and specific transition provisions to protect existing long-term residents.

Minister for Small Business, Trade and Consumer Affairs, Guy Barnett, said our Government was delivering for Tasmanians.

“Long-term residents of residential parks currently face a maze of legal considerations – from contractual and tenancy rights, to planning, building and public health laws,” Minister Barnett said.

“This Bill aims to deliver balanced, fair and modern reforms that support residents and park owners, recognising the role these parks play in housing affordability and the visitor economy.

“It is important we get the balance right, providing much-needed protections for residents while also ensuring operators can continue to provide the parks and services that so many Tasmanians and visitors across the State enjoy.

“The Bill will provide a framework for dispute resolution, charging of rent and other charges, processes and time frames for vacancy and other issues that were highlighted by stakeholders in feedback to the discussion paper issued in 2024.

“Importantly, some provisions of the Bill will apply retrospectively, providing certainty and clarity to current residents and operators.”

All members of the community, residents, park operators and other stakeholders are invited to make a submission on the draft Bill.

A copy of the Bill and details on how to make a submission are available on the Department of Justice website: www.justice.tas.gov.au/community-consultation

Public submissions in response to the Bill must be received by midnight on Sunday 8 February 2026.