Media Release Thursday 9 April 2015

The ACT Labor government needs to engage and consult with public housing tenants to keep them informed about rent levels and other matters affecting their lives, Shadow Minister for Housing Nicole Lawder said today.

"The government’s decision to delay last year’s annual rental review and a decision to change rental rates at a time when private market rents were falling is disappointing. There is an obvious disconnect between the government and residents," Ms Lawder said.

"The government carried out the rental review in March and April of 2014 but public housing tenants have still not been told whether their rent will increase, decrease or stay the same.

"Many people are understandably angry about the government’s delay in making a decision and public housing tenants need to be treated with dignity and not kept in the dark.

"I’m sending a message to the government that it needs to be more open and transparent with public housing residents about rental rates," Ms Lawder concluded.