Greens leader Shane Rattenbury (centre) has slammed Labor’s priorities as the impact of the 2025/26 budget continues to be debated. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
A petition has called on the government to bring back the Rent Relief Fund after the ACT scrapped the program earlier this month.
The petition, sponsored by Greens leader Shane Rattenbury and supported by non-profit Care, said the fund was a valuable lifeline for vulnerable Canberrans and requested the government fund the program indefinitely.
Care CEO Carmel Franklin said the charity strongly supported the petition.
“At Care, the Rent Relief Fund proved to be a critical part of providing wraparound support to vulnerable private renters,” she said.
“It provided clients with financial support to sustain their housing as well as providing a means to connect with other supports offered through Care’s financial counselling and other programs, including energy supports.”
The Greens have also come out in support of the petition criticising the decision to scrap the program. Leader Shane Rattenbury said the government didn’t have anything in place to compensate for the needed support.
“This Labor Government says it’s replacing the rent relief fund with ‘more targeted supports’ but really it’s just spin. In reality, what they’re doing is cutting support for renters doing it tough in an unaffordable housing market.
“The Greens fought to introduce this fund so people wouldn’t be pushed into crisis over an unexpected bill or a family emergency. Now, Labor is walking away from those renters and leaving them out in the cold.”
Established in 2023, the Rent Relief Fund offered up to four weeks’ rent to a maximum of $2500 paid to landlords, to help renters in financial hardship. Over two years the fund delivered over 1400 grants, or about two grants per day.
Ahead of the 2025/26 budget, the government said the fund was always intended to be a short-term measure and was superseded by other support programs.
However a number of Canberra charities said the rental crisis made the fund a vital source of support and lobbied the government to reconsider.
The current petition states the fund is needed to support the city’s social housing shortfall of about 5400 units and to address the increasing unaffordability of housing.
Mr Rattenbury said it was a minor cost for the government with a big return for the community.
“Keeping this fund going costs just $1.7 million a year – a tiny amount compared to what this government hands over to the gambling industry. This is small-scale funding that delivers a huge impact for those who need it most.”
Ms Franklin said the fund addressed a critical gap in support services.
“The Rent Relief Fund also provided a means to connect clients with other services and supports provided by government and non-government agencies who we work closely with as referral partners,” she said.
“The loss of the Rent Relief Fund has created a gap in the range of supports our most vulnerable households need to help keep a roof over their heads in Australia’s least affordable private rental market for people on a low income.”
The petition comes after significant pushback saw a proposed $250 health levy adjusted and a controversial fee on volunteers dropped.
Mr Rattenbury said the government needed to revisit its priorities.
“They’ve already faced significant backlash to their unfair health levy, and this decision is clearly cut from the same cloth. It’s about time they change their direction,” he said.
The petition is open for submissions on the ACT government website until 1 September 2025.
