After months of sitting on the fence on the issue of ongoing support for tenants and landlords, Labor have once again confirmed they have no position of their own and have simply copied the Greens after previously adopting the Greens’ short stay accommodation position.
Only 11 days ago, Labor spokesperson Alison Standen wrote to Minister, Elise Archer, and the Premier, asking for advice on behalf of “both landlords and tenants,” providing no position of her own.
Fast forward to yesterday, when Ms Standen attacked the Government, aggressively demanding further extensions to the eviction moratorium, days after the Greens had made the same call.
Our Government recognises the daily challenges faced by Tasmanians during this time of financial hardship, and we continue to provide the necessary support as Tasmania recovers and rebuilds from COVID-19.
Our support packages for landlords and tenants have been amongst the most generous in Australia, and have helped to remove more than 79 per cent of rent arrears from the residential tenancy market, assisting both landlords and tenants.
Nearly $3 million dollars in support has been paid to landlords and tenants who have been financially impacted as a result of COVID-19 measures that needed to be taken to protect the health and well-being of Tasmanians, and more than 3,200 landlords and tenants have applied under the COVID-19 Landlord Support Fund and the COVID-19 Rent Relief Fund during the emergency period.
While the Government has been busy responding to a pandemic and providing the necessary supports, Labor’s chaotic policy position only serves to further highlight the massive internal divisions in the Tasmanian Labor Party with Ms White’s leadership under significant pressure.
This follows preselection speculation and the public vote of no-confidence by senior union leader Tim Jacobson – also a strong supporter of fellow unionist and Labor leadership aspirant David O’Byrne.
Under Ms White, Labor are a policy-free zone and are once again trying to align themselves with the Greens. They’ve failed to deliver a properly costed and funded Alternative Budget, have no ideas of their own, and have absolutely nothing to offer Tasmanians.
Ms White may have survived the Christmas period as Labor Leader, but it remains to be seen how long that will last.