Member for Davidson, Jonathan O’Dea and Shadow Minister for Fair Trading, Catherine Cusack MLC have met with retirees in the Davidson Electorate, concerned over the NSW Government’s ill-conceived Retirement Villages Amendment Bill.
Jonathan O'Dea, Retirees Representative Doug Shell and Shadow Fair Trading Minister, Catherine Cusack MLC.
“For some time this Bill has been stalled in the NSW Upper House because the Coalition and other non-Labor Members, believe it is not in the best interests of residents,” Mr O’Dea said.
“The Labor Party has tried to promote this Bill as benefiting residents but when introduced into the NSW Parliament, it clearly exposed big wins for Retirement Village owners.
“The Bill allowed owners to charge residents 50% of capital costs as well as half the maintenance costs and other charges.
However, the refusal by the Coalition and other non-Labor Upper House Members to pass the legislation has pressured the Government into a humiliating backdown,” Mr O’Dea said.
Shadow Fair Trading Minister and Upper House MP, Catherine Cusack said, “The Government has been forced to remove the requirement for village residents to pay 50% of capital works – but there is still more to do.
”We will move amendments to make the Bill fairer for residents so that contracts are not overridden and owners are forced to explain other charges.
“We disagree with plans to allow owners to increase charges without consultation and beyond residents’ capacity to pay – and we want to stamp out the disgusting practice of forcing residents to meet the cost of payroll taxes,” Ms Cusack said.
“Both the Shadow Minister and I met with over 120 residents of the Glenaeon Retirement Village at Belrose today, to bring them up to date with the latest developments and hear their concerns first hand,” Mr O’Dea said.
“The Coalition will continue to monitor the progress of this Bill and work to ensure retirement village residents are dealt with fairly by any amended legislation,” Mr O’Dea concluded.
