Coinciding with Domestic and Family Violence Prevention month, changes have been made to the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008. meaning that domestic violence victims will now be better protected.
The Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) can now order that information of victims is not listed on tenancy databases where a breach of an agreement is due to the actions of their partner.
Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Shannon Fentiman said the change will make sure that vulnerable people are not further marginalised by not being able to rent a property.
“We know that women have been left homeless because of these database listings, and we know that there have been cases where women have stayed with an abusive partner for fear of not being able to find somewhere to live,” she said.
“This change is simple, but it will be mean a lot to vulnerable people who need our support.”
Housing and Public Works Minister Mick de Brenni said the changes were another level of support for people fleeing dangerous domestic violence situations.
The changes start from July 1 and there will be a transition period of six months to allow database operators to update their data and remove any old and irrelevant listings.
