The letter below appeared in Brisbane's Courier Mail of Saturday 18 October.
As the rental crisis continues to push people and families into more difficult circumstances, I am not hearing any debate or talk about implementing a system in Australia similar to that in Europe to provide people on average incomes with long-term rental accommodation security.
I have friends in Europe who have rented their abodes for more than 10 years. They can plan ahead and raise their children knowing they will be able to go to the same school, have the same friends and live in the same neighbourhood.
This stability contributes to balanced, successful, adults and better communities in the longer term.
In Australia, we are subjected to six or twelve-monthly leases, two weeks' notice (without grounds, under a fixed term agreement), indeterminable increases each time a lease ends and lack of affordable and quality property.
There are many decent people who rent, yet we are treated as second-class citizens who can't be trusted; and children are raised in these environments.
I am an employed professional. I work part-time and raise a child on my own. Our rent recently increased by almost $100 a week (last year the increase was $50 a week). We have two weeks to decide what to do. Surely, as a society, we can do better than this.
Comments
Milly Osborne (not verified)
Wed, 2008-10-29 18:37
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stop immigration
Anonymous (not verified)
Fri, 2008-10-31 16:05
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Built for shelter, not prosperity
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