2025-07-18
The Leader of the ACT Greens, Shane Rattenbury has sponsored a petition led by Care Financial to save the ACT Government’s Rent Relief Fund from being cut as has been planned by Treasurer Chris Steel in the ACT Budget.
Quotes Attributable to Carmel Franklin, Chief Executive Officer of Care:
“Care strongly supports this petition to keep the Rent Relief Fund. At Care, the Rent Relief Fund proved to be a critical part of providing wraparound support to vulnerable private renters.
“It provided clients with financial support to sustain their housing as well as providing a means to connect with other supports offered through Care’s financial counselling and other programs, including energy supports.
“The Rent Relief Fund also provided a means to connect clients with other services and supports provided by government and non-government agencies who we work closely with as referral partners.
“The loss of the Rent Relief Fund has created a gap in the range of supports our most vulnerable households need to help keep a roof over their heads in Australia’s least affordable private rental market for people on a low income.”
Quotes attributable to Leader of the ACT Greens, Shane Rattenbury:
“This Labor Government says it’s replacing the rent relief fund with ‘more targeted supports’—but really it’s just spin. In reality, what they’re doing is cutting support for renters doing it tough in an unaffordable housing market.
“The Greens fought to introduce this fund so people wouldn’t be pushed into crisis over an unexpected bill or a family emergency. Now, Labor is walking away from those renters and leaving them out in the cold.
“If you’re on minimum wage and struggling to pay the rent, this cut doesn’t leave you with better options—it leaves you closer to homelessness.
“Keeping this fund going costs just $1.7 million a year—a tiny amount compared to what this government hands over to the gambling industry. This is small-scale funding that delivers a huge impact for those who need it most.
“It’s about time Labor revisited their priorities for this budget. They’ve already faced significant backlash to their unfair health levy, and this decision is clearly cut from the same cloth–it’s about time they change their direction.