Eastern Community Legal Centre’s (ECLC) law reform and policy work focuses on challenging unfair laws and practices, and making recommendations to improve the legal system.

Proposed Residential Tenancies Regulations 2020

A public consultation on the proposed Residential Tenancies Regulations 2020 was held from Tuesday 12 November 2019 to Wednesday 18 December 2019. The regulations contain supporting details about changes to the Residential Tenancies Act 1997.

ECLC currently provides tenancy advice and casework through the Deakin Student Legal Service (DSLS), a program which has been funded by the Deakin University Student Association since April 2012. DSLS provides on-site legal information, casework and support to all enrolled Deakin University students at the Burwood campus. Tenancy matters make up about a third of this work in the generalist service, and the service has provided assistance on hundreds of tenancy matters to date.

Read ECLC’s submission on the proposed Residential Tenancies Regulations 2020.

ARLC’s Inquiry into Elder Abuse

The Australian Law Reform Commission launched an Inquiry into Elder Abuse in 2016.

ECLC’s first submission, ‘No Longer Behind Closed Doors’ (.PDF), provides a strategic response to social security for older people, family agreements, appointed decision makers and the detection and reporting of elder abuse by frontline service staff.

The ALRC released a Discussion Paper on 12 December 2017, which considers ECLC’s views on Enduring Powers of Attorney and Guardianship, Centrelink payments & correspondence nominee schemes and awareness training for frontline Centrelink staff. ECLC submitted a response, ‘Respect Your Elders’ (.PDF).

Read the ALRC’s final report here. 

The Victorian Royal Commission into Family Violence

ECLC contributed its expertise in law and family violence in submissions provided to the Royal Commission into Family Violence. The submissions can be read here.

Tenancy

ECLC’s Tenancy Advice and Advocacy Program (TAAP) provided the following submissions to the review of the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 (RTA):

1. Consultation Paper – Laying the Groundwork (.PDF)
2. Issues Paper – Security of Tenure (.PDF)
3. Issues Paper – Rights and Responsibilities of Landlords and Tenants (.PDF)
4. Issues Paper – Dispute Resolution (.PDF)
5. Options Discussion Paper (.PDF)

For more information, visit the Fairer Safer Housing website.