Olympics causing housing crisis

BY JOHN GAUCI

SYDNEY — Despite constant denials by the NSW Labor government, the Olympic Games are having a serious impact on housing in Sydney, an information kit launched on March 29 by the tenancy advocates Rentwatchers says.

Sixty people gathered at the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre on March 29 for the launch of the group's kit, titled "We can't share the spirit if we can't afford the rent".

Gary Moore, director of the NSW Council of Social Services, said that, while the Olympics has had a number of positive benefits, including employment from the Olympics-related construction boom, "It's cost approximately $3.5 billion to build these facilities. What hasn't been built due to the Olympics?"

He also criticised the state government for providing private security firms "with draconian powers to restrict the movements of private citizens". These powers have been extended to the harbour foreshores, the Rocks and the inner city and have a sunset clause of March 2002.

"One thing is for certain: if SOCOG doesn't meet its budget, NSW citizens will wear the deficit", said Moore.

Nick Warren from the Tenants' Union revealed that the government had six years in which to change "no cause" eviction regulations which make tenants "extremely vulnerable", but had not done so. The regulations free landlords from having to give a reason for an eviction and place the onus of proof for exorbitant rent increases on tenants. According to Warren, 75% of tenants in Sydney pay more than 30% of their income on rent and there are 350,000 people in Sydney living in poverty.

Michelle Burrell from the Kingsford Legal Centre told the gathering, "Sydney was in a housing crisis before it won the Olympics. Now rents are steadily increasing and so are evictions."

Burrell explained that boarding houses are closing and being renovated into backpacker accommodation. "Even model tenants are being evicted. If the Olympic torch can be kept alight under water, the government should be able to keep a roofs over our heads", she said.

The Rentwatchers information kit is available from Michelle Burrell on (02) 9398 6366.

From GLW issue 400