Published Friday, 13 July, 2007 at 02:34 PM

Minister for Public Works, Housing and Information and Communication Technology
The Honourable Robert Schwarten

RENT RISES SHOW NEED FOR RUDD SUMMIT


Low income earners aren’t getting any relief from rising rents according to new data released today by the Residential Tenancies Authority, Housing Minister Robert Schwarten said.

Mr Schwarten said data showed the median weekly rent for a three-bedroom house in Queensland had increased by 12% from June 06 to June 07.

He said the increases showed the continued stress in the private rental market.

“The data, based on new bonds lodged with the RTA, shows the median weekly rent for a three-bedroom house increased from $250 in June 2006 to $280 in June 2007,” Mr Schwarten said.

“Over the past five years you will see a state-wide increase of more than 51%, from $185 to $280.”

“These increases are forcing more and more people out of the private rental market and they people are turning up on the doorstep of the Department of Housing,” he said.

Mr Schwarten said the Commonwealth Government was out of ideas when it comes to helping low income earners in the housing market.

“Their methods of assisting low income earners into housing are simply not working. They pour billions into rent assistance, but turn their backs on public housing. Rents are

“Last week we saw the Federal Treasurer, Mr Costello, in an election-year stunt announcing an audit of Commonwealth-owned land.

“The situation will not improve while the Federal Government continues with clearly flawed policies … a new approach is needed, yet the Federal Minister responsible for housing didn’t even bother to turn up to a meeting with his state counterparts last week.”

Mr Schwarten said he backed initiatives unveiled recently by Federal Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd aimed at solving the housing crisis including proposals to reform rent assistance and loans for social housing providers.

“Howard and Costello don’t have a Minister for Housing and can’t bring themselves to even utter the word “public housing.”

“All of a sudden, we’re approaching a Federal Election and they start giving the topic of affordable housing some lip service.

“The Queensland Government now outspends them on housing, which was never the case under a Federal Labor Government.

“However Kevin Rudd has put some ideas forward and I certainly welcome that.”

MEDIA CONTACTS: DAVID SHANKEY 3237118

RTA DATA ON RENT INCREASES

Jun-02

Jun-06

Jun-07

increase $ 06-07

increase % 06-07

increase $ 02-07

increase % 02-07

Brisbane

$210

$280

$315

$35

12.5%

$105

50.0%

Bayside

$205

$280

$320

$40

14.3%

$115

56.1%

City Inner

$275

$350

$380

$30

8.6%

$105

38.2%

North - Inner

$230

$300

$340

$40

13.3%

$110

47.8%

North - Outer

$200

$260

$300

$40

15.4%

$100

50.0%

North West - Inner

$270

$350

$360

$10

2.9%

$90

33.3%

North West - Outer

$200

$280

$305

$25

8.9%

$105

52.5%

South - Inner

$210

$280

$310

$30

10.7%

$100

47.6%

South - Outer

$190

$260

$290

$30

11.5%

$100

52.6%

South East - Inner

$240

$310

$340

$30

9.7%

$100

41.7%

South East - Outer ^

$205

$280

$330

$50

17.9%

$125

61.0%

South West - Inner

$210

$285

$320

$35

12.3%

$110

52.4%

South West - Outer ^

$190

$250

$280

$30

12.0%

$90

47.4%

Bundaberg

$145

$215

$230

$15

7.0%

$85

58.6%

Caboolture

$170

$225

$250

$25

11.1%

$80

47.1%

Cairns *

$190

$270

$295

$25

9.3%

$105

55.3%

Emerald ^

$190

$340

$360

$20

5.9%

$170

89.5%

Gatton ^

$140

$185

$210

$25

13.5%

$70

50.0%

Gladstone

$190

$225

$280

$55

24.4%

$90

47.4%

Gold Coast (C) Pt A#

$165

$240

$275

$35

14.6%

$110

66.7%

Gold Coast (C) Pt B

$245

$330

$350

$20

6.1%

$105

42.9%

Gympie

$135

$200

$220

$20

10.0%

$85

63.0%

Hervey Bay

$155

$220

$240

$20

9.1%

$85

54.8%

Ipswich

$145

$210

$230

$20

9.5%

$85

58.6%

Kingaroy

$145

$200

$210

$10

5.0%

$65

44.8%

Logan

$165

$235

$265

$30

12.8%

$100

60.6%

Mackay

$175

$310

$350

$40

12.9%

$175

100.0%

Maryborough

$135

$190

$200

$10

5.3%

$65

48.1%

Mount Isa

$180

$280

$330

$50

17.9%

$150

83.3%

Nambour

$180

$260

$290

$30

11.5%

$110

61.1%

Pine Rivers

$180

$250

$290

$40

16.0%

$110

61.1%

Redcliffe

$180

$240

$270

$30

12.5%

$90

50.0%

Redland

$200

$265

$300

$35

13.2%

$100

50.0%

Rockhampton

$150

$210

$250

$40

19.0%

$100

66.7%

Roma ^

$140

$210

$250

$40

19.0%

$110

78.6%

Sunshine Coast ~

$215

$290

$320

$30

10.3%

$105

48.8%

Thuringowa Pt A

$185

$245

$275

$30

12.2%

$90

48.6%

Toowoomba

$165

$215

$225

$10

4.7%

$60

36.4%

Townsville

$190

$260

$280

$20

7.7%

$90

47.4%


Median Weekly Rents for 3 Bedroom Houses for Qld Statistical Divisions

Percentage increase Jun 06 Qtr to Jun 07 Qtr and Jun 02 Qtr to Jun 07 Qtr (5 yrs)

STATISTICAL DIVISION

Jun-02

Jun-06

Jun-07

Percent increase Jun 06 - Jun 07

Percent increase Jun 02 - Jun 07 (5 yrs)

Rent ($)

Rent ($)

Rent ($)

Brisbane

$190

$260

$285

9.6%

50.0%

Moreton

$220

$300

$325

8.3%

47.7%

Darling Downs

$150

$200

$215

7.5%

43.3%

South West

$140

$180

$210

16.7%

50.0%

Wide Bay-Burnett

$145

$200

$220

10.0%

51.7%

Central West

$120

$125

$140

12.0%

16.7%

Fitzroy

$160

$230

$270

17.4%

68.8%

Mackay

$170

$310

$350

12.9%

105.9%

Northern

$180

$240

$270

12.5%

50.0%

Far North

$180

$260

$285

9.6%

58.3%

North West

$180

$280

$330

17.9%

83.3%

Queensland

$185

$250

$280

12.0%

51.4%

* Median weekly rents are based on new bonds lodged with the RTA during the month

Source: RTA, Rental bond lodgements

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