Jenny Leong speaks in Parliament on banning gambling advertising, on 19 October 2022:

Ms JENNY LEONG (Newtown) (17:27): I contribute to this public interest debate on the motion moved by my colleague the member for Balmain and thank him for bringing it to the Chamber. It recognises the significant impacts of gambling and gambling advertising on our communities. Australians lose more money on gambling per capita than any country in the world. We have a deeply ingrained culture of gambling in this country and the harm it causes to people, families and communities is very real. Gambling ads fuel those losses and that harm by pushing people to spend more money, more often, as well as normalising gambling for kids. Gambling money has become so prolific in professional sport you cannot avoid it while watching a game. The concepts of athleticism and competition have been taken out of it, replaced by the wins, losses and making money.

Some States, including my home State of South Australia, have banned gambling advertisements during live sports broadcasts to minimise the impact on young people. It is time New South Wales did the same. It is evident by the actions taken in South Australia that this can be done at a State level. Instead, this Government seems happy to sell our State and our communities to the highest bidder in the gambling industry. We all remember when the Government allowed The Everest horserace to be advertised on the sails of the Sydney Opera House. This year our skies were filled with drones doing the same thing. It is the latest in a long line of examples of public space being ever increasingly given over to gambling promotions and advertisements that cause harm in our community. Each year Martin Place and other major public gathering places are often used for major gambling promotional events. Gambling advertisements and promotions commonly run in train stations across the city. It is a disgrace.

Instead of committing to genuine reforms that would reduce the harm gambling causes to our communities, this Government sits in the pocket of the gambling industry. While The Greens members recognise that the Government is seeking to undermine this motion by amending it in the Chamber to direct all responsibility at the Federal Government, we seek to amend the amendment moved by the member for Upper Hunter. I move:

That the amendment be amended by omitting all words after:

"(1)The New South Wales Government"

and inserting instead: "cannot avoid responsibility for the harm caused by gambling advertising by passing the buck to the Federal Government.

(2)Commits to ending exposure of children and vulnerable people in our community to the harm of gambling advertising in New South Wales."

Despite the inability of the Government and Opposition to support our motion, The Greens urge them to support a motion that calls for a ban on gambling advertising. It is shameful to see the New South Wales Liberal‑Nationals Government and the Labor Opposition in lock step when it comes to not supporting the motion before the House. I urge all members to support the amendment I have moved to the Government's amendment, which simply notes that the New South Wales Government cannot avoid responsibility and commits to ending the exposure of children and vulnerable people in our community to the harm of gambling advertising in New South Wales. That harm is real. In effect, gambling advertising is grooming young people for a lifetime of harm and gambling addiction that will have a huge impact not only on their lives but also on the lives of people around them.

So much more needs to be done to ensure that harm is not impacting on families across this State, especially when we know the impact of the cost-of-living crisis. Being unable to pay the rent or worrying about the mortgage means people will go to desperate lengths to make money in order to meet those basic needs. The last thing a person in a desperate situation needs is to have a gambling ad in their face as they make a decision on what they will do after having their shifts cut at work or being unable to make their rent payment that week. We should not encourage that kind of dangerous behaviour in our society. We need a genuine harm minimisation approach, which means a ban on gambling advertising as a starting point.

Briefing Note

Name of Bill: Residential Tenancies Amendment (Prohibiting No Grounds Evictions) Bill 2022

Introduced by: Jenny Leong MP, Greens Housing Spokesperson

Date of second reading speech in Parliament: 13 October 2022

Residential Tenancies Amendment (Prohibiting No Grounds Evictions) Bill 2022

Jenny Leong MP has introduced a bill to NSW Parliament to end no grounds evictions and set out the reasonable grounds by which an eviction can occur to tackle the escalating rental crisis.

One of the biggest issues for renters in NSW is a lack of stability. While rental laws in other countries have been set up to provide long term security for tenants, in NSW many renters don't know where they'll be living from year to year. 

Currently at the end of a rental agreement, which are usually for just six or twelve months, a landlord can tell a tenant that they have to move out of their home without providing any reason, even if the tenant has met all of their responsibilities and paid the rent on time.

Data released by the Tenants Union in February 2022 estimates that evictions cost the average renter more than $4,000 and up to 30% of renters will face an eviction, through no fault of their own.  NCAT data for 2021-22 shows that in the private rental market, landlords make 70% of applications to NCAT including eviction claims against tenants.

Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania have all moved to end no grounds evictions including. The UK Conservative Party pledged to end “no-fault” evictions in 2019. 

Residential Tenancies Amendment (Prohibiting No Grounds Evictions) Bill 2022 

The Greens bill sets out the grounds by which a lease can be terminated as:

1. The landlord, or close family member or the landlord, intends to live in the property for more than 12 months;
2. The landlord intends to carry out renovations or repairs that will make the property uninhabitable for a period of more than 4 weeks and all necessary permits/approvals have been acquired;
3. The premises will be used in a way, or kept in a state, that it cannot be used as a residence for at least 6 months;
4. Other grounds prescribed by regulations set out by the Minister. 

The bill would also empower the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal to compensate tenants if a landlord breaches the grounds of an eviction, including:

1. Directing the landlord to use the property as per the grounds set out in the eviction; and/or
2. Reinstating a Residential Tenancies Agreement to tenants wrongfully evicted; and/or
3. Paying compensation to a tenant to cover the costs associated with a  wrongful eviction.

Jenny Leong MP delivers a Private Member's Statement on Newtown electorate train station accessibility in the NSW Legislative Assembly, 19 May 2022.

Jenny Leong MP speaks on the state of public housing in the NSW Legislative Assembly, 19 May 2022. Add your support to the petition to the NSW Housing Minister to save public housing.

Jenny Leong MP delivers a Private Members Statement in the NSW Legislative Assembly in support of the Trans and Gender Diverse community, 12 May 2022.

Jenny Leong opposes the Roads and Crimes Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 and defends non-violent direct action and the right to protest. Jenny introduces the amendments to the Bill proposed by the Greens.

Jenny Leong participates in the ICAC and Other Independent Commissions Legislation Amendment (Independent Funding) Bill 2021 (No. 2) debate, 24 March 2022.

Jenny Leong speaks in the NSW Legislative Assembly on the urgency of acting to mitigate the worst risks of climate change as discussed in the IPCC's latest report.

Jenny Leong, MP for Newtown, speaks about the impacts of the floods on the housing crisis in northern NSW and the Greens' plans to support affected communities and tackle the unfolding emergency.

Jenny Leong MP introduces the Residential Tenancies Amendment (Tenant Protections and Flood Response) Bill 2022.