On 22 June 2023 the Senate referred an inquiry into the worsening rental crisis in Australia to the Community Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report, with an interim report to be presented by 21 September 2023 to aid in the deliberations of the National Cabinet on renters' rights, and a final report to be presented by 28 November 2023. On 28 November 2023, the Senate granted an extension of time for reporting until 5 December 2023.
Further detail about the scope of the inquiry is provided in the terms of reference.
Sharing your experiences
The committee would like to hear from people about their experiences of the rental situation in Australia. However, please note that the committee cannot advise on, advocate for, or take action on individual matters.
You can share your experiences by writing to the committee – this is called making a submission. The committee asks submitters to consider the terms of reference and provide a submission that directly addresses one or more term of reference.
Most submissions are published on the committee's website and continue to be publicly accessible long after the inquiry has ended. However, you can ask the committee not to publish your submission on the internet or for your name not to be published. Alternatively, you can share your experiences by providing your first name only and the suburb you live in.
You can send your written submission to the committee secretariat by emailing community.affairs.sen@aph.gov.au or by uploading it via the online system.
Submissions and the simplified submission form have now closed.
Comments that adversely reflect on another party
Where a submission reflects adversely on another party (for example, makes allegations of a serious nature such as incompetence, negligence, corruption or criminal conduct), the committee is generally required to provide that party access to the submission and an opportunity to respond. The committee may decline to accept or decline to publish a submission that contains adverse reflections. In particular, the committee may consider it inappropriate to publish any adverse reflection upon a named individual. The committee encourages submitters to refrain from naming such individuals or organisations.
More information on how to make a submission
You can read more about how to make a submission here and look at this plain English guide.
If you have any questions, or cannot send your submission by the due date and need more time, please contact the committee secretariat.
The secretariat can be contacted via community.affairs.sen@aph.gov.au or (02) 6277 3515.
Inquiries from hearing and speech impaired people should be directed to the Parliament House TTY number 02 6277 7799.
Support services
If you or anyone you know needs help, a list of support services, including emergency accommodation and tenancy support services, is available here.