Executive Director Daniel Gannon said the passage of legislative amendments through Tasmania’s House of Assembly strikes a consumer-operator balance.
“The RLC has long advocated for and supported greater clarity, certainty and transparency that lifts consumer confidence,” said Daniel.
It was only in June when then Attorney-General and Minister for Workplace Safety and Consumer Affairs, Elise Archer, said she would amend the 2004 Retirement Villages Act to address concerns regarding significant increases to annual recurrent charges and levies. The new Minister for Workplace Safety and Consumer Affairs, Madeleine Ogilvie (pictured), said the Bill boosts safeguards for retirement village residents.
“The amendments will strengthen protections for residents of retirement villages, while ensuring retirement village operators are not prevented from making reasonable fee increases
required within certain circumstances to ensure their financial sustainability,” she said.
Under the changes if a retirement village operator wishes to propose an increase which is not permitted under those circumstances, the operator may apply to the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (TASCAT), which can either approve or deny the increase.
Daniel added with the number of Tasmanians aged over 75 set to increase from approximately 52,000 to 81,000 over the next two decades, the need to create a legislative environment that encourages new supply and new investment is underscored.
“Housing this ageing population is critical, and so is the legislative and investor environment to help unleash more age-friendly communities across Tasmania," he said.
“Retirement communities are a solution for loneliness and depression, while encouraging improved physical wellbeing and social interaction – and the benefits to governments are compelling.
“When we reduce interaction with GPs and hospitals, we release capacity back into health systems for those who need it most when they need it most.”
