I welcome the government’s decision to consult further on laws that would have forced agents and owners to give all rental applicants the opportunity to provide counterbids to any offers for rent higher than that advertised.

Tenant advocates and homelessness specialist services overwhelmingly argued that the changes would have created ‘rent auctions’ and further drive up prices. Working with my crossbench colleagues, I got the government to refer provisions to a committee which I sat on. Expert submissions and testimonies raised concerns that this would make the rental crisis worse, and the provisions will now go to the new rental commissioner to consider. This is a sign of good consultative government. Details of the inquiry submissions and hearings > HERE