tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66694822616843513382024-03-14T03:49:07.758+11:00Ron Hoenig Member for HeffronRon Hoenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04442280649505279265noreply@blogger.comBlogger481125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669482261684351338.post-75318398703958719792023-07-16T15:26:00.003+10:002023-07-16T15:26:48.146+10:0075 years of Cleary's Newsagency serving the Mascot community<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fron.hoenig%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0gCPruLwAS7W9rmMyDVX4gDefK7JJFQB4qvhLC6WLvU5EWxqYoQtwTdNmP8jkMd5tl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="793" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>Ron Hoenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04442280649505279265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669482261684351338.post-13692995907461368912023-07-16T15:25:00.003+10:002023-07-16T15:25:17.987+10:00Randwick Counci Citizenship ceremony<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fron.hoenig%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02zKDKLxTMwHhvtVMKpwwwtbmscgGmgF68zM54aGbfLsyWK84EuYetdNWMPwseX5Ycl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="712" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>Ron Hoenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04442280649505279265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669482261684351338.post-41041713899707915962023-07-16T15:23:00.003+10:002023-07-16T15:23:47.673+10:00NSW Health warns school aged children to get their flu shot<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fron.hoenig%2Fvideos%2F812304737266028%2F&show_text=false&width=268&t=0" width="268" height="476" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe>Ron Hoenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04442280649505279265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669482261684351338.post-66530136283537334292023-07-16T15:21:00.002+10:002023-07-16T15:22:14.437+10:00Rosebery Mobile Office<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fron.hoenig%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02kbWSEKTRqFrDFTMnGLsjvHLEbEppKF6cFVqnEtFH7ajLWBZ2TSA34Nwfai5ZpAJJl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="590" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>Ron Hoenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04442280649505279265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669482261684351338.post-31690200760517254402023-01-25T22:30:00.002+11:002023-01-25T22:30:27.537+11:00Beware of Crypto scams <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fron.hoenig%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02MW6ucxsD11UPoAFUHVpkDNwXBSC3TegWFh8bNWyGrDWKAjqSpaiCbQQMNKhQjZEl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="609" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>Ron Hoenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04442280649505279265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669482261684351338.post-76147096119927753442023-01-25T16:56:00.002+11:002023-01-25T16:56:08.490+11:00Are you entitled to a gas rebate?<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fron.hoenig%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02KQBRy9gQJdJQYKKKb78nHapMPHv8SgUoZpSTbimj6ycDXmK52hyckX1cSu7Lh1bQl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="657" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe><p> </p>Ron Hoenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04442280649505279265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669482261684351338.post-68325842674337686732023-01-16T15:44:00.001+11:002023-01-16T15:45:07.106+11:00LABOR ANNOUNCES MAJOR REFORM TO GAMING IN NSW<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><strong><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="color: #202020; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">NSW Labor has
today unveiled a major plan for reform to gaming in New South Wales.</span></strong></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="color: #202020; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The measures announced today gets the balance right. It’s a combination of
long-term and short-term changes that ensures we reduce the harm caused by
problem gambling and put a stop to money laundering and criminal activity as
outlined by the NSW Crime Commission report.<br />
<br />
At the same time, it ensures the industry and sector can smoothly transition in
a way that secures its future, as well as protecting the 127,000 people employed
in 2,260 pubs and clubs across the state. <br />
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><strong><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="color: #202020; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Expanded
Mandatory Cashless Gaming Trial</span></strong><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="color: #202020; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="color: #202020; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <br />Labor IN government will introduce a mandatory 12-month cashless gaming
trial in New South Wales, which will begin on 1 July 2023.<br />
<br />
The trial will include at least 500 machines, with a mix of pubs and clubs
across metropolitan areas of highest use, other metropolitan areas, and regional areas. It
will look at different cashless technologies, what infrastructure investments
are required, including cost, the impact on employment and industry and the
impacts on problem gambling, and options to further reduce problem
gambling. <br />
<br />
The trial will be overseen by an independent panel, made up of representatives
from law enforcement, gambling and health experts and academics, and industry. The panel will deliver their report and findings of the trial to Cabinet, with
findings and recommendations to be made public.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="color: #202020; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <br />
The panel will be tasked with providing a roadmap to implementation of gaming
reform across New South Wales.<br />
<br />
<strong>Labor will ban financial donations from clubs</strong><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="color: #202020; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Labor will lead the way when it comes to political donations, passing
legislation to ban political parties from accepting financial donations from
clubs who have gaming machines.For Labor, this starts today and under a Labor Government, it will become
law. <br />
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><strong><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="color: #202020; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Labor will
introduce poker machine cash input limits</span></strong><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="color: #202020; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="color: #202020; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
From 1 July 2023, Labor will reduce cash feed-in limits to $500 per machine for
all new poker machines – a tenfold reduction from the current limit of $5000.
This will also be enforced for newer machines where the changes can be made
rapidly, and Labor will then work to reduce feed-in limits in existing older
machines where possible.<br />
<br />
This is an important interim step while the trial is underway and goes directly
to the Crime Commission report which found that New South Wales has the highest
load up limits in the country, which represents a clear money laundering
vulnerability.<br />
<br />
This is also a vital step in harm minimisation.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="color: #202020; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<strong>Labor will ban all external gaming related signage </strong><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="color: #202020; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Under Labor, all external signage (e.g. “VIP Lounge”) promoting gaming machines
around pubs and clubs will be banned. Labor will work with the industry on a sensible time frame for implementing
this ban.<br /> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><strong><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="color: #202020; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Labor will reduce
the amount of poker machines in New South Wales</span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="color: #202020; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Labor will reduce the overall amount of poker machines in New South Wales.<br />
<br />
We’ll reduce the gaming machine entitlement cap immediately to be in line with
the existing number of entitlements in the state right now.<br />
<br />
Labor will also reduce the number of machines by moving to a simple 1 in 2
forfeitures for all future trades between clubs and pubs.<br />
<br />
Currently any pub or club seeking to increase their machines must have room
within their existing threshold, and then must get those machines from other
pubs or clubs. When there is a trade, some entitlements are forfeited –
currently this usually happens at a rate of one machine forfeited for every
three traded. Labor will make this one for every two – accelerating the removal
of poker machines from the system.<br />
<br />
As the number of machine entitlements are removed from circulation – every year
the cap will be reset at the new, lower number of machine entitlements.<br /> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><strong><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="color: #202020; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Labor will invest
in harm minimisation programs through a $100 million fund</span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="color: #202020; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> NSW Labor will reinvest the $100 million penalty paid by Star Casino into measures
and programs that reduce harm caused by problem gambling. The fund will be
overseen by the independent panel. It will go towards:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #202020; line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><strong><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Facilitating
the mandatory trial</span></strong><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">;<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #202020; line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><strong><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Appropriate
gaming machine reduction in consultation with the independent panel;</span></strong><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #202020; line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><strong><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Harm
minimisation programs, </span></strong><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">including an additional $10 million a year into the
Responsible Gambling Fund; and<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #202020; line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><strong><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Implementing
recommendations from the independent panel and the mandatory trial.</span></strong><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><strong><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="color: #202020; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Labor will
introduce Responsible Gaming Officers (RGO) in venues</span></strong><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="color: #202020; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="color: #202020; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A Labor Government will introduce a Responsible Gaming Officer for venues with
more than 20 poker machines.<br />
<br />
There is currently a requirement for those in registered clubs and hotels to
have completed a Responsible Conduct of Gambling (RCG) course.<br />
<br />
The role would be enshrined in law to ensure that the RGO could not be subject
to adverse action by the employer, when acting in the course of their duty,
such as banning a patron. This will bring New South Wales in line with a
similar scheme that exits in Victoria.<br />
<br />
We will also focus on mandatory periodic training to ensure that venue managers
comply with their statutory obligations to Anti-Money Laundering and Counter
Terrorism Funding.<br /> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><strong><span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="color: #202020; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Introduce third
party exclusion and mandatory facial recognition to enhance self-exclusion</span></strong></p>
<span face=""Helvetica",sans-serif" style="color: #202020; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> <br />
A Minns Labor Government will expand the register beyond the current limited
self-exclusion program – to include the whole state.<br />
<br />
The program will also be expanded to allow third party exclusion which will
include family members and police via application through the court system or
ILGA. This will include money launderers and those believed to be using the
proceeds of crime.<br />
<br />
This would work in concert with facial recognition technology already being
introduced into pubs and clubs.<br />
<br />
A deadline of 30 June 2024 will be established for pubs and clubs to implement
facial recognition technology.<br />
<br />
This will be supported by strict privacy protocols and restrict those people
from receiving marketing or promotional material.<br />
<br />NSW Labor Leader Christ Minns said; “I said from the outset this is complicated policy area and we needed an
evidenced based approach to make sure any measures we introduced would work and
wouldn’t have any unintended consequences.<br />
<br />
“We’ve worked with a range of stakeholders to get the balance right."<br />
<br />
“Labor is leading the way – from today Labor will not accept donations from
clubs with gaming machines. The Liberals and Nationals should make the same
commitment. And if we win – it’ll be law.<br />
<br />
“We know the harmful effects of problem gaming on families, and I want to make
sure we stamp out criminal activity in clubs.<br />
<br />
“Under Labor, we’ll have an evidence-based approach, less pokies in NSW and a
range of harm minimisation measures.”<br /><br />
<!--[endif]--></span>Ron Hoenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04442280649505279265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669482261684351338.post-7017731178488727582022-12-10T22:02:00.002+11:002022-12-10T22:02:10.107+11:00What exceptional people - A Gift of Bread<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fron.hoenig%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02FWCVQV7ZHzoRDxgZQKtKKqewTtwLKW98rjfQ1FniFSbRYJMQyXrEP52r9Sw7UZMAl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="754" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>Ron Hoenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04442280649505279265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669482261684351338.post-4557144501627607252022-12-10T22:00:00.005+11:002022-12-10T22:00:47.615+11:00Bayside Council Seniors Christmas Party is the best<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fron.hoenig%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02Uv6u866E54YbKAjS5pRqYANVeY2uHgUMVVD47G3PbdWAXGTgd8oqkeHBXfKzssu9l&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="690" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>Ron Hoenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04442280649505279265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669482261684351338.post-5743530143032840892022-12-10T21:59:00.001+11:002022-12-10T21:59:06.443+11:00In Zetland see a patch of dirt - build a high-rise<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fron.hoenig%2Fvideos%2F1084995158811385%2F&show_text=false&width=268&t=0" width="268" height="476" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe>Ron Hoenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04442280649505279265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669482261684351338.post-83905072535688194802022-12-10T21:57:00.001+11:002022-12-10T21:57:14.088+11:00I was delighted to meet Christy again<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fron.hoenig%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0mCDzwNg3FsovYSYXTUNivid1pHQQwCFZdN9m4AnwCZcYU9EpsUFs3DWAQmufdzFUl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="723" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>Ron Hoenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04442280649505279265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669482261684351338.post-25273802398527099842022-12-05T10:59:00.003+11:002022-12-05T10:59:55.302+11:00 Last of the Jacarandas blooming in Lionel Bowen Park<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fron.hoenig%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0vUJLY38pcoer8rHzrfNmNYKCFT1smjvdMMX2sefroL6i37XRhyerUkQ1yS37KYQrl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="504" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>Ron Hoenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04442280649505279265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669482261684351338.post-80121347160294118882022-12-04T22:09:00.000+11:002022-12-04T22:09:11.135+11:00Congratulations Dr Christina Curry, Mayor of Bayside Council<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FChristinaKCurry%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0wyZNqCorE92DffyWf5NFWgh8BqM7EmhuUDEwvfkbYW1EGDZDmkRn4QwFRwEE3W9El&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="723" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>Ron Hoenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04442280649505279265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669482261684351338.post-78339261366833971452022-12-04T22:05:00.001+11:002022-12-04T22:05:34.364+11:00Mobile phones need to be banned from NSW classrooms<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fron.hoenig%2Fvideos%2F867168484476116%2F&show_text=false&width=267&t=0" width="267" height="476" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe>Ron Hoenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04442280649505279265noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669482261684351338.post-68375782859473444472022-12-04T22:01:00.004+11:002022-12-04T22:03:49.021+11:00You have done us proud Socceroos<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fron.hoenig%2Fposts%2Fpfbid03644ybRiqVt95CoAHKeRM4MTsnrKkD4tmv1KrPD8oVAKKCDweFBCM3uoVoFiXZyYyl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="520" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe>Ron Hoenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04442280649505279265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669482261684351338.post-69204394403760284542021-04-14T20:29:00.008+10:002021-04-14T20:32:04.499+10:00Eastlakes Reserve renamed to the Jack Mundy Reserve<p><span style="font-size: large;">With the passing of that great Australian hero Jack Mundey last year Bayside Council graciously accepted my suggestion to rename Easetlakes Reserve in his honour.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Had it not been for Jack and his leadership, and the Buildings Labourers Federation placing a "Green Ban" on that area there would be a mass of apartment buildings rather than a park. It would be difficult to imagine Eastlakes without Eastlakes Reserve.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I had the great honour of talking with Judy Mundey, Jacks wife, about the "Green Bans" that rescued so much of Sydney's heritage and environment including Eastlakes Reserve. Her recollection of this pivotal time in our local history is fascinating. Have a listen.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="323" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rl6s-pYeVMo" width="608" youtube-src-id="rl6s-pYeVMo"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Ron Hoenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04442280649505279265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669482261684351338.post-19098918860420033882021-04-14T16:25:00.003+10:002021-04-14T16:25:49.922+10:00Replacing stamp duty with a yearly property tax - What does it mean?<p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The NSW Treasurer has been for many months floating the idea of abolishing stamp duty on the purchase of properties and replacing the one of stamp duty with a yearly property tax. Many people are attracted to the idea.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">They think they will not have to fund that huge stamp duty payment when they buy a home. My parliamentary colleague, Anoulack Chanthivong, Member for Macquarie Fields analysed the effect of this policy charge in a speech to the NSW Parliament. It is worth reading. He calls it "the snake oil salesman’s pitch" His speech is below.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Mr ANOULACK CHANTHIVONG (Macquarie Fields) (18:12</b>:58<b>):</b> Every so often in political life, we get the odd economic snake oil salesman spruiking their political ideas as the public policy panacea for all our ills. The snake oil salesman promises "jobs boost by the hundreds and thousands, skyrocketing economic growth by the billions and savings in the many thousands for people doing it tough". But with careful analysis and an evidence‑based argument, the snake oil salesman's pitch does not deliver magical economic unicorns; it can actually be harmful.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Treasurer's proposed snake oil property tax panacea will replace a one‑off tax with one that never ends. Somehow getting rid of stamp duty will solve all our property market ills. The Treasurer might be a Gordon Gekko, high‑flying corporate lawyer, but I question his slick economics marketing of replacing a one‑off progressive tax with a never‑ending regressive land tax. The Treasurer, and Premier aspirant, has been recently making big media statements about his reform vision.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Let me remind the House of the Treasurer's recent reform accomplishments. He could not even deliver the Fire and Emergency Services Levy—a proposal only a fraction in difficulty and complexity—when it had been handed to him on a platter and he has proposed an increase to the GST on food and the cost of living.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Treasurer is an A‑grade policy spruiker but a D‑grade policy deliverer.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Property prices do not go up or down because stamp duty exists or is taken away and replaced with a never‑ending annual land tax. To suggest they do is at best deception and at worst just plain absurd.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Any good economist knows—and I am but a mere humble working‑class economist from Macquarie Fields—that property prices are reflective of demand and supply factors, namely, the ease in accessing credit, the price of credit, people's current and future expectations of their employment and income and property stock supply and the timing of that supply and population growth.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A 2020 study by the Australian National University and University of Canberra modelling the impact of the Australian Capital Territory's stamp duty reform to a land tax system produced the following findings: House prices increased by 9 per cent; units increased by 4 per cent; housing sales decreased by 6 to 7 per cent; unit sales decreased by 23 per cent to 24 per cent; and potential new home owners used the illusory stamp duty savings to bid up property prices.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Using the above facts, let us run through a scenario: A young aspiring couple wants to buy a home in Leppington which has an expected value of $800,000 and unimproved land value of $500,000.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The couple will pay an estimated $31,000 in stamp duty. Under the new snake oil, never‑ending annual land tax market conditions, the expected property increases by 9 per cent, or about $72,000, meaning the winning bid for the property is now $872,000.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The snake oil, never‑ending annual land tax is equal to $500 plus 0.3 per cent of $500,000 or about $2,000 per year, increasing every year the couple lives in that house.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">CoreLogic property data shows that the length of home ownership continues to rise, with home owners in some suburbs holding onto their property for more than 20 years. In some parts of south‑west Sydney on former greenfield estates like Leppington, properties are held for greater than or equal to 15 years.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So the expected land tax is $2,000 times 15 years, which equals $30,000. That does not include any annual compounding interest on land value or rate increases. This is the end result: Under the Treasurer's magical, snake oil, never‑ending land tax, the home owner pays $72,000 more to purchase their property, plus a $30,000 tax bill on their home.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Treasurer has potentially cost them up to $102,000 under this scheme. No matter your linguistic abilities, that is a lot of money in anyone's language. The never‑ending annual land tax would be more than $30,000 if the property is kept for more than 15 years.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When the home owner does move, they are just as likely to pay a new snake oil, never‑ending annual land tax on their next home for the rest of their life.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">No doubt there will be interjections that this is an optional scheme. Let me also say that the fact that it is an optional scheme makes it an adverse selection one—that is, those who can least afford it or are in a tighter financial situation will opt for the land tax because they have been sold a stamp duty savings pup. Those who can most afford it will pay the stamp duty and not have to worry about a tax bill arriving in their letterbox every year.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Treasurer's snake oil annual land tax is in effect a double taxation system in higher property prices and an increasing never‑ending land tax. Double the property tax and higher property prices? No, thank you.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Time does not permit me to say more about this snake oil, never‑ending land tax, but I will make further factual‑based arguments to reinforce the old aphorism of "anything that is too good to be true usually is".<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p>Ron Hoenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04442280649505279265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669482261684351338.post-1237084655885315112020-09-29T10:56:00.004+10:002020-09-29T11:04:38.538+10:00Bayside Massive Rate Increase - Disgraceful<span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></b><span style="font-size: large;"> am outraged at the Liberal and Independent councillors on Bayside Council who a couple of weeks ago voted to increase residential rates in the former Botany Bay Council area by up to 51 per cent from 1 July next year. T</span></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">he council, under the pretence of harmonisation of council rates across the amalgamated council area, determined a massive increase in rates to residents in my electorate. </span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">All eight Liberal and Independent councillors voted in favour of this plan, which will see rates increase on average by between 28 per cent and 51 per cent from 1 July 2021. All seven Labor councillors voted against it. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The Liberals did this during a devastating pandemic and the worst recession since the Great Depression. When the airlines and universities—which support the employment of many of my constituents—are laying off thousands of workers, as are many other employers across my electorate, I will name those Liberal councillors who represent residents in my electorate. Mascot residents are being slugged by the vote of councillor Michael Nagi and Eastlakes residents are being slugged by the vote of councillor Paul Sedrak. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Their vote for this increase is on the public record and they will be accountable for it.
The Bayside Council amalgamation has been an abject failure. The amalgamation was forced upon the residents of the former City of Botany Bay, despite 90 per cent of residents voting against it at a plebiscite. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Complaints of poor customer service and a reduction in service standards flood my office. Councillors and staff meet for hours in secret under the pretence of briefings, with no public scrutiny of the information conveyed to councillors. When the Minister for Local Government, warned the council that its committees were not permitted to meet in secret, the council abandoned its committee meetings. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">For weeks councillors were locked away with an unresponsive bureaucracy. They were away from pesky, prying, public eyes, being housetrained with various financial models, all designed to get them on board for a massive rate increase. Fortunately, the Labor councillors were not buying it. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> The Liberal councillors who want to impose this huge increase on my constituents are the same Bayside Liberals who shot to infamy in 2018 when at a Liberal Party branch meeting they started brawling in the streets of Bayside. A number of attendees were charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and assaulting police in the execution of their duty. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Not only did the Liberals give us a council that our community did not want, the same Liberals who just two years ago were brawling in the streets of the local government area are now voting to increase residents' rates by 51 per cent. No wonder the Premier does not want the Liberals endorsing candidates at the next local government elections. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">If others are like the brawlers from Bayside, I do not blame her.
I am loath to blame the legislation at this point. Other amalgamated councils seem to have managed the process. The good, conservative burghers who govern the northern beaches were able to manage a rate harmonisation with the merger of three councils without these extreme increases. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I am also conscious of the Auditor‑General's report to Parliament and the briefings I received in relation to the council's financial management and procedures, including rates. Voting to increase taxes during a pandemic and a recession at a time of crisis and massive unemployment is outrageous. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The councillor who represents Mascot in my electorate, Councillor Michael Nagi, to justify his vote told the council, "It's less than a dollar a week", "What does it cost, a cup of coffee?" Councillor Barlow said, "I am just saying it's $4 a week".
Those councillors should look Qantas workers in the eye and tell them the same thing. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I am told that councillors led by councillor Christina Curry and Scott Morrissey have lodged a rescission motion that will be considered next month. That gives the opportunity for those Liberal councillors to reconsider the significance of what they wish to impose on my community. Councillor Michael Nagi and Councillor Paul Sedrak can utilise the time and do something really novel: consult with the people of Mascot and Eastlakes, an area that they do not live in or ever visit. They can look them in the eye and say to these struggling people of my electorate, "Your massive increase is only the price of a cup of coffee."</span></div>Ron Hoenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04442280649505279265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669482261684351338.post-87199339785223686882020-05-18T23:23:00.001+10:002020-05-18T23:23:08.549+10:00FAQ’s COVID-19 <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fron.hoenig%2Fposts%2F2943745455740420&width=500" width="500" height="726" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe>Ron Hoenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04442280649505279265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669482261684351338.post-67676219455671434772020-05-17T14:01:00.002+10:002020-05-17T14:02:52.049+10:00Vale George Lundy<div id="fb-root"></div>
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<div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/ron.hoenig/posts/2944879272293705" data-show-text="true" data-width=""><blockquote cite="https://developers.facebook.com/ron.hoenig/posts/2944879272293705" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><p>Our community has lost one of the most outstanding human being I have had the honour to meet, and it was a privilege to...</p>Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ron.hoenig/">Ron Hoenig MP</a> on <a href="https://developers.facebook.com/ron.hoenig/posts/2944879272293705">Saturday, May 16, 2020</a></blockquote></div>Ron Hoenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04442280649505279265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669482261684351338.post-17844450648002717922020-04-19T02:15:00.001+10:002020-04-19T02:15:27.804+10:00New laws proposed to protect tenants from eviction<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fron.hoenig%2Fvideos%2F606488319941637%2F&show_text=0&width=560" width="560" height="317" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe>Ron Hoenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04442280649505279265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669482261684351338.post-50889428336842546342020-04-16T09:13:00.000+10:002020-04-19T02:15:49.259+10:00Advice for landlords responding to rent reduction requests <div align="center" class="MsoTitle" style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif; font-size: 28pt; letter-spacing: -0.5pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">When should this letter be used?</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>All landlords must be prepared to negotiate rent payments with tenants <b>who are impacted by </b>the Coronavirus (<b>COVID-19</b>) pandemic. This means where:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.2667px;">o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>One or more rent-paying members of a household have lost or reduced income due to COVID-19 business closures or stand-downs; or<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.2667px;">o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>One or more rent-paying members of a household have had to stop working or reduce work hours due to illness with COVID-19 or due to COVID-19 carer responsibilities for household or family members; and<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.2667px;">o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>The matters above result in a reduction in the household income inclusive of any government assistance of 25% or more. <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Tenants can formally request a rent review on the basis that they are affected by COVID-19.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Tenants who have lost income due to COVID 19 should make a genuine attempt to negotiate with the landlord to reduce rent to whatever level they can afford. Landlords should engage meaningfully and in good faith.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>A landlord will only be able to give a termination notice or apply for an eviction after the interim 60-day stop, if they have tried to negotiate a rent reduction with the tenant in good faith and if seeking a termination is fair and reasonable in the circumstances of the specific case.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>You can use the attached template letter to respond to a tenant’s initial request to waive or reduce rent payments.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Landlords are entitled to request basic supporting documents from the tenant to support the claim that a tenant is impacted by COVID-19, for example:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10pt;">o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>proof of job termination/stand-down or loss of work hours<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10pt;">o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>proof of Government income support<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10pt;">o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>proof of prior tenant income.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Landlords are encouraged to approach their financial institutions to seek a mortgage freeze or reduced repayments as part of the negotiation discussions (see more information below).<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Make sure you keep evidence documenting your financial arrangements, and communication you’ve had with your lender to waive or reduce your repayments.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>All agreements with the tenant should be in writing, making a note of whether the arrears will be waived or repaid once the tenant resumes their normal employment.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">What should the letter to your tenant include?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b>Your financial situation<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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We encourage you to be open and honest about your financial situation with your tenant, including whether you rely on the rental income to cover mortgage repayments or other expenses. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Your conversations with your lender<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Landlords are encouraged to approach their financial institutions to seek a mortgage freeze or reduced repayments. In your response to your tenant, outline the result of conversations you’ve had with your lender about waiving or reducing your own mortgage repayments.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Rent payment that you would be able to accept<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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A tenant who is <b>COVID-19 impacted</b> but also receives work income and Commonwealth support is expected to continue to make a reasonable contribution to rent in line with what they can reasonably afford. If you are able to accept a reduced or waived rent payment for a temporary period until your tenant resumes normal employment arrangements, including through repayment deferrals genuinely sought from your bank or through other means, clearly outline the revised offer in your response, including reasons.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Clarify rent waived or propose a post-COVID-19 repayment plan<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Clarify whether the rent payment loss (arrears) will be waived or repaid under a repayment plan once the COVID-19 emergency is over or the tenant resumes employment.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"> </span></b><span style="font-size: 16pt; letter-spacing: -0.5pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Template letter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Your Name<br />Your Address<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Date<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Tenant Name<br />Their Address<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Response to request to negotiate rent payments due to COVID-19<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Dear [Mr/Mrs/Ms Tenant’s name]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Thank you for contacting me about your [weekly/fortnightly/monthly] rent payments for [property address].<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
I understand your financial circumstances have changed due to COVID-19, resulting in an impact on your income of 25% or more. I would therefore like to discuss your request to reduce your rent repayments to [$xxx] per [week/month/fortnight] until your normal employment resumes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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[Please provide documentation to support your claim that your household income has reduced due to COVID-19, and provide evidence of any Government income support you may be receiving. Documents could include proof of job termination/ stand-down, proof of Government income support, proof of prior income.]<o:p></o:p></div>
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I propose [outline your proposal i.e. acceptance of their suggested reduced or waived rent payments, or another solution] for a period of [insert period, minimum of six weeks].<o:p></o:p></div>
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[If rent payments can be reduced or waived, please clarify whether the payments will be waived or subject to repayment in the future.]<o:p></o:p></div>
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I look forward to your response.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Kind Regards,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Your Name and Signature<br />Your Phone Number<br />Your Email Address<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Example situation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Ms Smith’s tenant has had his salary reduced by 25% as a result of business closures following the COVID-19 public health orders. Ms Smith’s tenant has lived in the property for a number of years, and has suggested a rent reduction of 25% per week until his normal employment resumes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ms Smith is retired but has a number of properties from which she earns her income. She is therefore in a position where she can accept a temporary reduction in rent payments until her tenant’s usual employment resumes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Example letter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Ms Smith<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">111 First St, Woolgoolga NSW<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Monday, 6 April 2020<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Mr Bird<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">222 Muffin Lane, Woolgoolga NSW<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Response to your request to negotiate rent payments due to COVID-19<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Dear Mr Bird<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Thank you for contacting me about your weekly rent payments for 222 Muffin Lane.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I understand your financial circumstances have changed due to COVID-19 and would therefore like to discuss your request to reduce your rent repayments by 25% per week until your normal employment resumes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Please provide documentation to support your claim that your household income has reduced due to COVID-19, and evidence of any Government support you may be receiving. Documents could be proof of lost employment / stand-down / loss of work hours or reasons for not being able to work due to COVID-19 illness, proof of Government income support, and proof of prior income.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Subject to you providing the above documentation, I am able to accept your suggested reduction in rent payments for an initial period of six weeks. Your new weekly rent payment will therefore be $250. You will not be required to repay the 25% reduction once your normal rent payments resume.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Please update me in six weeks on your employment and financial situation, and in the meantime please let me know should you have any queries.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Kind Regards,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Ms Smith<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">smith@email.com.au<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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0444 555 666<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;">Advice for landlords approaching their financial institution for mortgage repayment waiver or reduction<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">When should this letter be used?</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>As detailed above, all landlords must be prepared to negotiate rent payments with tenants experiencing financial hardship due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Landlords are encouraged to approach their financial institutions to seek a mortgage freeze or reduced repayments as part of the negotiation discussions with their tenant/s.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">What should the letter include?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b>Your financial situation<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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You should be open and honest about your financial status with your financial institution. If you rely on the income from your rental property to pay for the mortgage in part or full, and are negotiating with your tenant about rent payment, this should be outlined and evidenced in your request.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Mortgage waiver or reduced payment you are seeking<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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A tenant who is unable to meet their rental obligations due to COVID-19 but also receives work income and Commonwealth support is expected to continue to make a reasonable contribution to the rent. Depending on the rental amount your tenant has put forward and your other financial circumstances, you should detail the mortgage amount you are able to pay until you or your tenant resumes normal employment arrangements.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Clarify rent waived or propose a post-COVID-19 repayment plan<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Clarify whether your rental payment losses (arrears) will be waived or repaid under a repayment plan with your tenant once the COVID-19 emergency is over or the tenant resumes employment.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Template letter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Your Name<br />Your Address<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Date<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Financial institution name<br />Their Address<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Request to negotiate mortgage payment waiver or reduction due to COVID-19<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Dear [Sir/Madam]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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[I am/We are] contacting you about my/our [weekly/fortnightly/monthly] mortgage repayments for [property address].<o:p></o:p></div>
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[My/Our] financial circumstances have changed significantly due to COVID-19 because of [include details of lost employment, reduced work hours, and/or tenant request for rental reduction or waiver, and reasons for income reduction]. My/Our household income per week is now [outline what your income is and include any Government payments received].<o:p></o:p></div>
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Please find attached documentation outlining [my/our] previous and current financial situation.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></div>
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Because of this, [I/we] would like to discuss the possibility of reducing or waiving our mortgage repayments to [$xxx] for the next [month/fortnight].<o:p></o:p></div>
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[We/I] look forward to discussing this matter further with you.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Kind Regards,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Your Name and Signature<br />Your Phone Number<br />Your Email Address<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p> </o:p><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Example situation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Ms Smith’s tenant has had his salary reduced by 25% as a result of business closures following the COVID-19 public health orders. Ms Smith’s tenant has lived in the property for a number of years, and has suggested a rent reduction of 25% per week until his normal employment resumes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ms Smith has had her hospitality business income reduced by 50% as a result of the COVID-19 public health orders and relies on the rental income she receives to repay the mortgage on her property. She therefore approaches her financial institution to request a mortgage repayment reduction or waiver.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Example letter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Ms Smith<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">111 First St, Woolgoolga NSW<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Monday, 6 April 2020<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Financial Institution A<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Financial Institution Street, Sydney, NSW<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Request to negotiate mortgage repayment waiver or reduction due to COVID-19<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Dear Sir/Madam<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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I am contacting you about my fortnightly mortgage repayments for 222 Muffin Lane, Woolgoolga NSW.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
My financial circumstances have changed significantly due to COVID-19 because my hospitality business income has reduced by 50%. My tenant is now also requesting a rent reduction of 25% a week due to the impact of COVID-19 on their financial circumstances. My household income per week is now <span style="background: yellow;">$XX</span>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Please find attached documentation outlining my previous and current financial situation.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></div>
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Because of this, I would like to discuss the possibility of waiving my mortgage repayments or reducing it to $500 for the next month.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I look forward to discussing this matter further with you.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Kind Regards,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Ms Smith<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">smith@email.com.au<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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0444 555 666<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ron Hoenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04442280649505279265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669482261684351338.post-61374806704617722032020-04-14T09:10:00.002+10:002020-04-14T09:10:34.796+10:00Advice for tenants approaching landlords to request rent reduction<div align="center" class="MsoTitle" style="font-family: "Calibri Light", sans-serif; font-size: 28pt; letter-spacing: -0.5pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 108pt; text-align: center; text-indent: -108pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">What should this letter be used for?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Coronavirus (COVID-19) has already had a significant impact on the economy, meaning some tenants are having difficulty keeping up with rent payments. The NSW Government is introducing measures to help landlords and tenants work together.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 3.75pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>The support package includes a six-month moratorium on landlords issuing termination notices or making applications for forced evictions due to rent arrears for tenants who are financially impacted by COVID-19 and unless landlords and tenants try to negotiate rental reductions in good-faith. If you are a tenant who is impacted by COVID-19, you may be eligible for this new process.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>You need to be able to demonstrate that you <b>are impacted by COVID-19, </b>meaning that:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 15.6933px; margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.2667px;">o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>One or more rent-paying members of a household have lost or reduced income due to COVID-19; or<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.2667px;">o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>One or more rent-paying members of a household have had to stop working or reduce work hours due to illness with COVID-19 or due to caring for household or family members ill with COVID-19; and <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.2667px;">o<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>The matters above result in a reduction in the household income inclusive of any government assistance, of 25% or more. <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>A tenant who is impacted by COVID-19 under the above criteria can request a rent review. If a tenant who is impacted by COVID-19 does not pay their full rent but does not attempt to negotiate a rent reduction may not be protected from eviction.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>A landlord will only be able to give a termination notice or apply for an eviction after the interim 60-day stop, if they have tried to negotiate a rent reduction with the tenant in good faith and seeking a termination is fair and reasonable in the circumstances of the specific case.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>If you are tenant impacted by COVID-19 you can use this sample letter to advise your landlord that your circumstances have changed and that you’d like to start a rent payment discussion.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Make sure you have evidence documenting the current and previous financial arrangements for your household, including any income support received.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">What should the letter include?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b>Personal information and contact details<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Start your letter with your name, contact information, the address of the property you are currently renting from the landlord and your current rent.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Your original household income<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Please outline your household income before your change in circumstances due to COVID-19. For example, the income you were earning per week (including hours per week if you were doing casual or contract work). Please also include any income support received.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Please attach supporting documents e.g. payslips, work agreement.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Your change in circumstances due to COVID-19 and how this has impacted on your household income<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Please outline how this household income has changed due to COVID-19. For example, this may be because you (or your partner or other household tenants) lost your employment or have a reduction in hours which has led to a substantial loss in household income. You will need to meet each of the criteria in the above <b>COVID-19 impact</b> <b>test</b>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Don’t forget to explain the reasons for your household income reduction, for example, if you work at a public place banned under the <a href="https://preview.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/public-health-orders" style="color: #954f72;">COVID-19 Public Health Order</a> such as a gallery, cinema, gymnasium or beauty salon. Include the date that your situation changed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Please attach supporting documents e.g. employment termination notice, communication from employer.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Any income support you receive<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Please outline any support you or your partner, or other household members receive or intend to apply for from the government, such as the <a href="https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/subjects/affected-coronavirus-covid-19/if-you-need-payment-coronavirus-covid-19" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="color: black;">Youth Allowance, JobSeeker Payment, JobKeeper Payment or Parenting Payment. </span></a> <o:p></o:p></div>
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Please attach supporting documents e.g. statement from Commonwealth Government department.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Rent payment that you would be able to meet under your new household income<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Please outline the rent repayments that you believe you would be able to meet. For example, if you are still in full time employment but your partner’s hours have been reduced by 50%, you might request a 25% reduction in rent payments. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Template letter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Your Name<br />Your Address<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Date<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Name of Landlord Or Agent<br />Their Address as Printed on lease or tenancy documents<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Request to negotiate rent payments due to COVID-19<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Dear [Mr/Mrs/Ms Landlord’s name]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk37066839">[I am/We are] contacting you about our [weekly/fortnightly/monthly] rent payments for [property address].<o:p></o:p></a></div>
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[My/Our] financial circumstances have changed significantly due to COVID-19 because of [reasons for income reduction]. My/Our household income per week was originally [outline your household’s original work income / work hours, include any Government payments received]. Following [reasons for household income reduction], my work income is now [outline what your household’s income is and include any Government payments received]. This change happened on [date of change in circumstances due to COVID-19].<o:p></o:p></div>
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Please find attached documentation outlining [my/our] previous and current household income.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></div>
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Because of this, [I/we] would like to discuss the possibility of reducing rent payments to [$xxx] for the next [month/fortnight].<o:p></o:p></div>
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[We/I] appreciate that you may also be experiencing financial hardship at this time and look forward to discussing this matter further with you.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Kind Regards,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Your Name and Signature<br />Your Phone Number<br />Your Email Address<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Scenario<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Mr Stack works as a fitness instructor at a gymnasium in Tamworth. Due to the temporary closure of gymnasiums across the country due to the public health orders, Mr Stack’s usual hours of 30 per week have reduced to 10 hours of virtual classes per week.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Mr Stack’s income has significantly reduced to 30% of his former salary. He has therefore chosen to approach his landlord to see whether a rent reduction would be possible until he can return to his normal hours.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Example letter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Mr Stack<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">123 Second Lane, Tamworth NSW<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Thursday 2 April, 2020<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Ms Jones<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">345 Owners Close, Tamworth NSW<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Request to negotiate rent payments due to COVID-19<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Dear Ms Jones,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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I am contacting you about my weekly rent payments for 123 Second Lane in Tamworth.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My financial circumstances have changed significantly because of COVID-19 due to the Government advice to close all gymnasiums. I worked as a fitness instructor and recently lost my employment. My original income was $800 per week for 30 hours per week. I am now receiving $450 per week through the JobSeeker allowance. My overall income has reduced by $350 per week. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Because of this, I would like to discuss the possibility of reducing my weekly rent payments by $250 per week for the next two months. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Please find attached proof of reduced hours from my employer, the fortnightly JobSeeker allowance and proof or prior income upon signing the lease.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></div>
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I appreciate that you may also be experiencing financial hardship at this time and look forward to discussing this matter further with you.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Kind Regards,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Mr Stack<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="mailto:stack@email.com.au" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">stack@email.com.au</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">0412 345 678</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Ron Hoenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04442280649505279265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669482261684351338.post-20441794578473517852020-04-14T02:14:00.000+10:002020-04-19T02:14:24.503+10:00Preschools are now free<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fron.hoenig%2Fposts%2F2862946320487001&width=500" width="500" height="681" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe>Ron Hoenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04442280649505279265noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6669482261684351338.post-20628380736301817512020-04-13T02:12:00.000+10:002020-04-19T02:13:00.756+10:00Yarra Bay Cruise Terminal proposal should not be deferred it should be scrapped<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fron.hoenig%2Fvideos%2F230806707979509%2F&show_text=0&width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe>Ron Hoenighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04442280649505279265noreply@blogger.com0