Brisbane renters protest rent hikes, profiteering landlords

Yesterday (Saturday the 22nd of April), members of the South East Queensland Union of Renters (SEQUR) organised a rally and march where speakers made demands of State and federal governments after an acknowledgement of country by Sam Woripa Watson. Sam spoke of what it is like to be a renter in Queensland from personal experience by himself, his parents, and his grandparents. He spoke of the consequences for Aboriginal people who are being kicked out of their rental homes. The speakers that followed made these demands:

1. That housing is a right and and not a commodity. This was posed by a single mum who had been harassed and bullied by a landlord in rental accommodation for her two kids. He had insisted he have carte blanche access to the property where they were living.

2. That the state government provide public housing which is affordable and accessible.

3. That the federal government take away capital gains tax concessions and abolishes negative gearing for landlords.

4. That the state provide real assistance for the mentally ill, the maginalised and the poor.

Sadly these demands have fallen on deaf ears at a time when developers and the state government are only interested in preparing for the Olympics.

ETU union organisers and members provided solidarity and support as renters in S-E QLD gatherered in the square, before a march that took people through the busy Queen Street Mall. Crowds cheered and gave genuine encouragement to the marchers, filming with their phones and some saluted in solidarity.

SEQUR called for urgent common-sense rental reforms to curb the housing crisis and give renters security in their own homes. It is demanded an end to long-term rentals being used for short-term Airbnb accommodation and the prioritisation of the tenant’s right to a home over the landlord’s right to profit. This protest was a broad call for renters to unite in a struggle against real estate agents, landlords, and the state that defends their profits at the cost of tenants’ right to housing.

“The crisis we’re in is caused by landlords and their supporters in parliament,” said Andrew, current Secretary of the South East Queensland Union of Renters. “We are in the midst of the worst housing crisis seen in decades—not because of a shortage of houses, but because landlords across the state are deliberately leaving thousands of houses empty and raising rents drastically.”

“Renters need solutions that actually solve the housing crisis. That can only be fought for and won by renters organised as a social and political force—which is exactly what our fighting tenants union is set up to do. Tenants are done with playing nice.”

Speakers included SEQUR members and members of the ETU and NTEU.

Ian Curr
4PR – Voice of the People
23 April 2023