Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 8 June 2016.)

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (12:23): I rise to speak on the Residential Tenancies (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill 2016 which, as indicated by the government, proposes to make some relatively minor amendments in respect of right of entry between landlord and tenants, prospective tenants, arrangements to clarify concern as to the termination of tenancy when a property is to be under contract for sale, and what to do with abandoned property in the event of a tenant vacating a property and introducing, then, an obligation, effectively, for a two-day period to enable the recovery of them.

We accept that these are relatively minor amendments and that appropriate consultation has been made. I place on the record my appreciation to Mr Geytenbeek, adviser to the Attorney, for following up on an inquiry as to what is to happen in respect of abandoned goods that might be a live animal, in particular pets. I recounted to him an occasion when pets, including chooks, were left at a property the tenants vacated. I found myself having to round up chooks, put them in the boot of the car and get them somewhere safe so that they could be fed and watered.

Mr Geytenbeek assures me that pets or livestock left at a premises are not abandoned property within the act, that there is an appropriate course of action. Whilst there is no provision to deal with animals left on premises, people are to contact the RSPCA or the Animal Welfare League (assuming my option was not satisfactory). I indicate that that advice was quite helpful. He suggested that SACAT would be an appropriate forum if there was a dispute about who should deal with abandoned animals. Fortunately, I am pleased to say that that was not necessary in order to ensure the safe and continued life of the chooks in question in my case. Nevertheless, I thank him for following that up, and I appreciate his prompt attention to the same. The opposition supports the bill.

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Justice Reform, Minister for Planning, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Child Protection Reform, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for Consumer and Business Services, Minister for the City of Adelaide) (12:25): I thank the honourable member for her support and that of her colleagues.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: By speaking, you are closing the debate.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: I am, yes. I welcome her pithy response. I am very pleased that Mr Geytenbeek has been able to be of assistance to her in relation to this matter. I think the commissioner and others are here to hear this. I intend, after this, to buy them some Freddo Frogs or some other sort of tribute.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Surely Haigh's or Melba's.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Yes, something of that nature. Maybe the red ones we can get here, I am not sure, but they certainly deserve congratulations, so congratulations for your good work. It is not always that the member for Bragg compliments people providing advice.

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: No, that is what I am saying: not always, therefore it is even more valuable because it is not the sort of thing that she throws around like confetti. I thank her for that and obviously acknowledge the great work done by those advising.

Bill read a second time.

Third Reading

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Justice Reform, Minister for Planning, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Child Protection Reform, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for Consumer and Business Services, Minister for the City of Adelaide) (12:27): I move:

That this bill be now read a third time.

Bill read a third time and passed.

Sitting suspended from 12.27 to 14.00.