New Greens 'renters authority' plan to fine dodgy agents $78k and freeze rents 
The Greens' National Renters Protection Authority would also have the power to strip real estate agents of their licences and landlords would face fines of up to $15,650 if they breached rental laws.
A person at a protest holding a placard that reads "NO EVICTIONS: RENT RELIEF NOW"
The Greens' new housing plan would also provide a right to guaranteed lease renewal.
SBS News September 1 2024.
KEY POINTS   
The Greens will push a National Renters Protection Authority in the lead-up to the next federal election.
It would investigate rental breaches and have the power to fine non-compliant real estate agents and landlords.
The Greens wants the federal government to take a more active role in coordinating nationally consistent rental laws.
On-the-spot fines and taking dodgy real estate agents to police are among the proposed powers of a National Renters Protection Authority (NRPA) the Greens will push in the lead-up to the next federal election.

Along with a 1,000-strong workforce to investigate rental breaches, the authority would have sweeping powers to strip agents of their licences and fine dodgy landlords up to $15,650, and real estate agencies $78,250.

"Across this country, there are 7 million renters who are powerless in their own homes, unable to push back against unfair rent hikes, dodgy agents, and landlords who never do basic repairs," Greens housing spokesman Max Chandler-Mather said in a statement.



"In a system stacked against renters, the NRPA will fight to protect every renter’s right to a secure and affordable home."
A man wearing a blue shirt and black blazer is speaking.
Greens housing spokesman Max Chandler-Mather announced his party's plan for a National Renters Protection Authority on Sunday evening.
According to the Parliamentary Budget Office, the NRPA would cost the federal budget $2.5 billion per year — in the form of grants to states and territories, which control renting rules — to impose the following national tenancy standards:   
A 2-year rent nationwide rent freeze
Ongoing 2 per cent caps on rent rises
Right to guaranteed lease renewal
Access to 5-year leases
Nationwide minimum standards for ventilation, heating, cooling, and insulation
The Greens currently hold the balance of power in the Senate and have frustrated the government's efforts to pass some of its key housing policies.

While this latest idea will almost certainly be anathema to Labor, recent polls suggest the prospect of Labor governing in a minority after the next election is increasingly possible. In that scenario, the Greens could wield even more power. 
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Jordan went viral online exposing dodgy rentals. Now, he's entering politics

Advocates welcome NRPA
Rental laws are the responsibility of state and territory governments.

But the Greens and advocates say the federal government can coordinate a national framework, and point to the Morrison government’s COVID-era moratorium on rental evictions that the National Cabinet established.

More recently, the National Cabinet imposed temporary caps on coal and gas prices in response to the national energy crisis.

"We have seen the federal government step up and coordinate outcomes in a range of areas, including health and education where the states have ultimate responsibility," said Maiy Azize, a spokesperson for the national housing campaign Everybody’s Home.

"There’s no reason why housing can’t be the same, it’s just as essential."
A sign outside a house that reads 'For Lease'.

Joel Dignam, the executive director of tenant advocacy organisation Better Renting, said the federal government should take on more responsibility.

"For too long the real estate industry has been equivocal when it comes to rental laws," he said.

"Even if there were more $10,000 fines that would go a long way to improving behaviour and standards."
Opposition suggests docking GST if states don’t build more houses
Liberal senator Andrew Bragg on Sunday offered his solution to the housing crisis: put more pressure on the states.

Bragg told ABC's Insiders program the Opposition would consider reducing GST payments to states that don't build enough new homes, to force them to “do the heavy lifting", if it was to win government at the next federal election.

"We need to be creating and finding a way to hit the states hard where it hurts," he said.

"Otherwise, I fear that we would drift into a situation where the housing problem will get worse before it gets better."

Populist idea - but like so many other - authoritarian in nature.

No, thanks .. we don't want Greenazis or Watermelons here.

The Wild Left are the Neo-Nazis of today... those two dozen Hitler saluters just think they are the real thing... all twenty or so of them .... what a hoot.... a single line of 'Nazis' gather at a demo - an entire street crowd of REAL Nazis in all colours and shades arrive for the real event... rioting, violence, threats, smashing of statues, marching in synch, microphones at the ready, assaulting police, and so forth.... leading into KristallNacht and Jew-hating.

Sure brings my 10% Jewish blood to the boil....

If there had indeed been any 'Nazi' movement in Australia, the Rainbow crowds would be battered and bruised and their tent camps torn up.... it's all lies... the true peril these days comes from the Extreme Left ... or more appropriately The Lunatic Left, not to mention a few religious fanatic groups and 'rights' demanders.

BTW - does the La'emba Mosque hold a welcome to country thing?  No Aborigine who valued his skin would go there and try it on.........

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Ah, that must be Jordan van den Lamb.

Jordan went viral online exposing dodgy rentals. Now, he's entering politics

Jordan van den Lamb — AKA purplepingers — has gained over 200,000 followers on TikTok, where he posts about the rental market and housing crisis.

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@purplepingers on X

"I hate real estate agents"

Yes, don't we all?

https://www.shitrentals.org/

Aussie legend! 

John Smith wrote on Sep 2^nd, 2024 at 5:33pm:


That's a good idea, John.

But, I doubt he would be able to afford it.

However, I do like him encouraging homeless people to squat in vacant houses (some have been empty for 10 years or more) and he asks people to send in lists of empty houses in their areas, he has quite a large collection of addresses already.

He does seem to be having an impact, at least... apparently the NSW government were sh!tting themselves and urgently passed anti squatting laws a few months back. 

Oh, and I just saw this gem:

https://x.com/purplepingers/status/1830248974093287621

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And that's just the 'tip of the iceberg' from what I've seen after following his posts on X during the year.

Real estate agents 'photoshopping' mould and old, dirty fireplaces out of photos is one of the funniest (well, it's not really funny).

Edit: I thought that attached image looked like Whirlpool Forums, here's the thread:

https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/thread/374pvjk8

John Smith wrote on Sep 2^nd, 2024 at 5:51pm:


Until the tenants started asking what happened to their $1300 cost of living rebates, that is.

https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/thread/374pvjk8#r14

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Yes - this. 100%

The problem with the Greens plan is it would make it harder for those who need housing the most....With much stricter rules protecting the tenant, landlords will be much more selective in a market where rentals are already scarce....Pay the rent and bills on time and look after the property you are renting, there is no reason for the landlord to evict???