Qld: Mayors angry over compulsory rentals

AAP General News (Australia)
12-10-2008
Qld: Mayors angry over compulsory rentals

By Steve Gray

BRISBANE, Dec 10 AAP - Queensland indigenous mayors are angry over a state government
move to charge housing rental at a rate of 25 per cent of income.

The mayors were confronted with the compulsory policy at a meeting with state government
ministers in Brisbane on Wednesday.

They are critical of the lack of consultation and say the policy takes no account of
the cost of living in remote areas.

Mayor of the Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council of five communities at the tip
of Cape York, Joseph Elu, said while housing was an issue, it needs to be seen in the
context of the local economy.

"The price of petrol is double what people in the cities are paying, the cost of food
is 27 per cent higher than Brisbane," he said.

"If you're just going to say 25 per cent of your income comes off for rent, we're saying
`What about the other things we're paying percentage-wise?'."

Roderick Tobane, mayor of Woorabinda Aboriginal Shire Council, said the communities
didn't fit the state government's expectations.

"Because we're welfare dependent we cannot generate the income to be sustainable, so
25 per cent ... is a little bit too far over the top," Mr Tobane said.

"The key to the way out is economic development."

Palm Island mayor Alf Lacey said indigenous councils needed to have input into how
commonwealth and state housing funds were spent.

The Palm Island council manages 375 rental properties, but has a population of 3,500 people.

Mr Lacey said it will be difficult to levy rentals at 25 per cent in communities "which
don't even have an economy".

Housing Minister Robert Schwarten said public housing rental in Queensland was 25 per
cent of income.

If food on Cape York was more expensive that was a separate issue that needed to be
addressed, he said.

Rental money would return to the indigenous councils for maintenance of their housing stock.

"They do not support 25 per cent rental, they made it very clear to me," Mr Schwarten
said after meeting the indigenous mayors.

AAP stg/pjo/it

KEYWORD: RENT

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