On Thursday, 23 July 2026 I attended estimates hearings in relation to the State Development, Infrastructure and Works Committee. I asked if the government can cap rent increases for tenants.
You can read my exchange with the Minister for Housing and Public Works below or in the official Parliamentary record of proceedings here.
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Was there a further question, member for Maiwar?
Mr BERKMAN: Yes. It is again to the minister, and I am mindful of time so I am not looking for a super longwinded answer here. In this budget the government has capped land rent increases for farmers; meanwhile, regional Queensland has become the most unaffordable region in the country to rent a home, with no limits on how much landlords can increase rents further. If this government can cap rents for businesses or farmers, can it cap them for tenants?
Dr ROWAN: Point of order under standing order 115: it is a lengthy preamble. A number of elements of the question relate to portfolio areas not under the responsibility of the minister who is currently before our estimates hearing.
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: One moment, please.
Mr BERKMAN: On that point of order, Deputy Speaker: I am happy to rephrase the question if it would satisfy the government members.
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Minister, the legislation relating to the limits on increasing rent once per year, or whatever it is, is in your portfolio, is it not?
Mr O’CONNOR: Tenancy laws are, yes. I can make comment on tenancy laws.
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for Moggill, I take your point of order. The member for Maiwar was providing some context around where he got to with his question, which is within the portfolio so I will not rule the question out of order on any grounds. Minister, can you answer in relation to rent tenancy laws?
Mr O’CONNOR: Yes. Our priority is on stability and certainty in the tenancy legislation in Queensland. That is the No. 1 thing we can do to help with housing supply, to have stability. It is the right thing to do for renters and it is the right thing to do for property owners and investors. Stability is our No. 1 driver and that is a message that I will give to tenant advocates as well as to the real estate industry. We have to have certainty after years of often kneejerk changes that had to be, embarrassingly, corrected by the member for Gaven. We are not doing that. We are delivering stability and certainty in the market because that is the best thing we can do for housing investors and it is the best thing we can do for Queensland renters. In the interests of time, I will leave it there.