Wednesday, 12 August 2026

 Tim RICHARDSON (Mordialloc – Minister for Local Government, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Renters) (14:24): It is an honour to serve as the Minister for Renters in the Carroll Labor government, which is fighting for the people of Victoria and the more than 2 million who are renting their homes. Victorians who are renting their homes know that this Labor government has their back. With more than 155 rental reforms delivered since 2018, we are taking action, rather than the ‘green from envy’ party up there, who are more about blocking housing. The three-day-a-week renters over there who only come in every now and then are more about Instagram reels and TikToks than outcomes. We have made it illegal to increase rents more than once a year. We have banned no-fault evictions to make sure that no-one is kicked out of their home for no good reason. We have established Rental Dispute Resolution Victoria, a free, faster alternative to VCAT for renters dealing with bond disputes, rent increases and repairs. And we have set minimum energy efficiency standards and safety measures to make sure rental homes are affordable and Victorians are more at ease. That is just a handful of those reforms.

The people in Victoria who are renting know the pit that they feel in their stomach when they fear they will not get their bond back or when they are told they might be kicked out of the home they have loved and cherished for no good reason. They know that this Labor Carroll government has their back every step of the way. While we are doing more for renters, there could not be a greater contrast, especially for those struggling with the terrible orange One Nation tenant who just will not stop living rent-free in the Leader of the Opposition’s head and the minds of those opposite. We might not have a Nationals Party soon, as we know. They will be looking for some rent in a different state, I think. We know what they will do – the contrast. What did the shadow minister say? ‘Rent reforms have gone too far.’ What does that mean? They will strip back rental reforms. They will leave 2 million Victorian renters on their own. It is only a Carroll Labor government that has their back.