Estimates - Barnett - Short Stay

Ms BURNET - I'm just wondering if you could provide any data or analysis on how many short-term rental properties were previously used as long-term private rental dwellings in Tassie, what limitations exist in tracking this information and how that might be addressed? 

Mr BARNETT - Thanks very much for the question and, of course, your ongoing interest in this matter, both in the parliament publicly and here across the table. It's more of a specific question, detailed question. I'll see if the department can assist with answering the specificity of that question. 

Ms PEARCE - With the Short Stay Accommodation Act, what we do is we gather information about properties that have been listed on the five main short-stay accommodation sites. We don't have any data matching with properties that may have been listed as rentals previously, so there is no ability to be able to track and see. And in any case, that analysis probably wouldn't sit with CBOS as a responsibility because that's really going down to a housing planning and analysis pathway. 

Ms BURNET - Yeah, I suppose it was really a question for the - I mean, it's good to have that background. But I suppose from a policy perspective, how do you think that might be addressed? 

Mr BARNETT - Well, obviously, we've said before we want to get a balanced approach. We realise there is a flow-on, an impact of Airbnb, as you described in your opening remarks. We'll take that on board. We're always open for improvements. But we've been sort of keen on ensuring that we want to grow our economy, want to support our visitor economy, tourism industry and those involved, small businesses alike. And I think some statistics in terms of part of your question were tabled, it might have been a week or so ago in the parliament that might be of assistance. I draw that to your attention. I don't have that information to hand but I'm sure we could assist the honourable member, and I'm happy to forward that to you if you haven't already received it in terms of those numbers that were tabled in parliament a week or so ago. I'll just check with the deputy director. 

Ms PEARCE - There is also some plans to develop a dashboard that shows residential tenancies by local government area. This is the information that's been long sought for by Shelter Tasmania to assist with the research that Prof Phibbs does in this space. We are planning on developing that dashboard over the next 12 months. That will then allow for much more ready crossmatching of data because we'll have local government to local government matching and, hopefully, address matching. 

Mr BARNETT - And just quickly to assist the honourable member, a little reminder that the relevant minister, although we're talking to CBOS, the relevant minister is the minister for Housing, which is Kerry Vincent, and just draw that to your attention for coming days if you wanted to ask those questions again to the relevant minister.