A big thumbs up goes to the Queensland state government for prohibiting real estate agents from pressuring jobless tenants to access super to pay rental arrears.

The Palaszczuk government’s announcement was in response to growing calls for real estate agents to cease insisting that jobless tenants apply to access their super as a “precursor to any discussion … about rental reductions”.

The union movement has repeatedly warned that tenants made jobless through COVID-19 who access their super could actually worsen their financial position over time if they lost insurance coverage.

Its thumbs down for the Morrison government for refusing to plug the gaps in the so-called ‘Jobkeeper’ legislation that will heavily impact the survival of the hospitality industry.

Under the new legislation casuals who have worked for less than 12 months will not be covered. Of course, the ACTU has demanded that this anomaly be addressed as a priority. Federal Labor supported the package despite the Morrison government rejecting its proposed amendments to extend eligibility to short-term casuals and temporary visa workers.