12 November, 2025
The Hon. R.A. SIMMS: I thought it might be helpful, in the interest of time, for me to clarify for members where we are at with this. This bill has been referred to a select committee. The select committee has handed down its report; it was tabled last session. Hopefully those members with an interest have had an opportunity to look at it.
From my perspective, the committee report is a bit paradoxical because the findings do not match the recommendation. The recommendation is that the bill will not proceed, yet the committee received overwhelming submissions and feedback that this was a positive innovation. Indeed, we did not receive any adverse submissions in relation to the bill, and that was a matter that was noted in the report itself.
The Landlords' Association did not make a submission advocating against the reform. Indeed, there was no submission against this bill, and I think that is because it was a pretty straightforward proposition. It is offering some pretty modest changes. There were, however, some drafting errors in the bill that were identified by CBS, and that is what my amendments reflect.
So I will test for consensus on the first one of those amendments and see if there is any support for that. If there is not, then I will not proceed with the rest of the amendments. I wanted to file amendments to give members the maximum opportunity to be able to support the bill. I did not want it to get into committee stage and for members to raise, 'Well, why haven't you taken up feedback on the drafting errors?', so that is what my amendments have done.
I think it is also worth highlighting the number of proponents that support the bill. Indeed, there was a piece in InDaily the other day that went through some of the supporters of this bill. They include Better Renting, Anti-Poverty Network, Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council, SACOSS and SA Power Networks. They are just some of the stakeholder groups that support this bill.
What the bill is asking for are some pretty basic standards: minimum energy efficiency standards for rentals, mandating things like fly screens on windows, mandating things like ensuring that air conditioning systems work and operate effectively. It puts in some water efficiency requirements as well, and it ensures that energy efficiency is made transparent to a prospective tenant before they enter into a lease.
A lot of these things are already law in other jurisdictions. Indeed, part of the feedback that came through in the committee was that my bill was actually too modest and did not go far enough. Despite that, the Labor and Liberal members of the committee could not bring themselves to support this as a modest advance in the rights of renters. I think South Australian renters are sick and tired of being treated as second-class citizens.
There are thousands and thousands of South Australians who rent and they deserve to live in homes that are cool in summer and warm in winter and have their basic amenities provided for. I am disappointed with how things unfolded on the committee. I do not think the outcome reflects the evidence that was presented to the committee. Rather, it reflects the predetermined views of the two major political parties; that is a disappointing outcome. It is my plan, if this bill is not successful tonight, to move to reintroduce it into the new parliament. I think this will be a key issue for the next state election because many, many South Australians want to see a fair go for renters in our state. I am going to continue to push for that.