On 31 July 2023, I spoke about McKeeley, a Brisbane local, who got slapped with a massive rent increase. 

I want to use this time to share a story from a constituent of mine, McKeeley:

We moved into our current Wilston unit in October 2021. An old but large 2-bedroom apartment, with minimal features (no fans, air con or dishwasher). Last week, we received a lease renewal—a 26% increase from $360 to $455 per week. This lease renewal was also for a 6-month period (rather than the 12-month leases we'd signed for this property prior).

We have made no major repair requests or had any issues with inspections. We've never missed a rent payment.

We offered an 11% increase. The real estate simply said 'the price is non-negotiable'. Now we have to move out.

In our last rental, we requested that our oven be repaired to a working standard. The landlord's response? A Notice to Leave along with the comment "What do you need an oven for? Don't you young people just eat Maccas?"

My partner and I are TRYING to be contributors to society but there is no hope of ever saving for a house deposit. We are stuck in a system that has no regard for tenants.

I am typing through tears in my eyes.

Australia's housing system is destroying people, and all this government has is cheap political stunts and half-baked policies that don't come close to addressing the scale of this crisis. Unlimited rent increases need to be made illegal.