The Rockliff Liberal Government is delivering increased protections for retirement village residents with the passing of the Retirement Villages Amendment Bill 2023 in the House of Assembly.
Minister for Workplace Safety and Consumer Affairs, Madeleine Ogilvie, said the Bill will amend the Retirement Villages Act 2004 to boost safeguards for retirement village residents.
"The amendments will strengthen protections for residents of retirement villages, while ensuring retirement village operators are not prevented from making reasonable fee increases required within certain circumstances to ensure their financial sustainability.
Under the changes if a retirement village operator wishes to propose an increase which is not permitted under those circumstances, the operator may apply to the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (TASCAT), which can either approve or deny the increase.
"The Bill addresses concerns that some increases imposed in the past have been unreasonable or not sufficiently explained to residents.
"Our Government has listened to the community with this legislation giving Tasmanians the protections and certainty they need and deserve."
"I would like to thank residents and the community for their help during consultation on this important Bill and now look forward to its passage through the Legislative Council," said the Minister.
