Short Stay Accommodation Act 2019 - Infringements
Ms BURNET question to ATTORNEY-GENERAL, Mr BARNETT
[10.27 a.m.]
When your government introduced the Short Stay Accommodation Act 2019, it was said it would compel booking platforms and property owners to provide accurate data so the impact on the housing market could be properly understood, and you created penalties for non‑compliance, yet your own department now admits the data receives is inaccurate and unreliable and appears to have stopped publishing the data. In tight housing markets, even relatively small levels of conversion from long-term rental to short stay can constrain supply and place upward pressure on rents and prices, which is exactly what we are seeing. How many infringement notices has your department issued to booking platform providers or property owners for failing to comply with the act since its commencement?
ANSWER
Honourable Speaker, I thank the honourable member for her question and her interest in this important matter. To make it very clear, as a government we want to focus on what's best for the community, and the rental market is one part of that.
I believe the honourable member and the honourable minister have responded very comprehensively to the former question from the member for Franklin. In terms of short stay, of course, that's a responsibility for the Treasurer. I don't want to pre-empt a debate that is expected later today, and we can't pre-empt in any way the orders of the day, so I don't wish to debate in detail the legislation that is before us with respect to short-stay and the levy. This is a commitment that we've given to the people at the election -
Ms BURNET - Point of order, Speaker, Standing Order 45, relevance.
The SPEAKER - Honourable Attorney-General, a point of order from the honourable member but before she does her point of order, I just want to remind the House that questions can be asked on orders of the day. It is only amendments or motions that cannot anticipate an order of the day, so questions are in order.
Ms BURNET - Thank you, Honourable Speaker, Standing Order 45, relevance. This specific question is about Consumer, Building and Occupational Services (CBOS) data which falls under your jurisdiction.
Mr BARNETT - That's what I was saying a little bit earlier in terms of the short-stay levy, very much an important commitment that we made at the election. We stand by that commitment. We intend to meet that commitment and deliver on that commitment that the Treasurer will have more to say about that.
With respect to the certain particulars that you make reference to, of course, minister Vincent is responsible for short‑stay accommodation. With respect to matters regarding CBOS, I'll take that on notice and get back to the honourable member.