Page 2262 - Week 07 - Thursday, 16 June 1994

PRESENTATION SPEECH

COMMERCIAL AND TENANCY TRIBUNAL BILL 1994

MADAM SPEAKER I PRESENT THE COMMERCIAL AND TENANCY

TRIBUNAL BILL 1994.

AS MEMBERS WOULD BE AWARE, THIS GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN

ACTIVELY ATTEMPTING TO RESOLVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE

IMBALANCE OF MARKET POWER IN THE AREA OF RETAIL AND

COMMERCIAL TENANCIES.

THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS TO THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS BUREAU

CONCERNING BUSINESS LEASES, AND THE CONDUCT WHICH THE

BUREAU HAS IDENTIFIED, SUPPORT CLAIMS ABOUT AN IMBALANCE IN

THE MARKET, WHICH IS OPEN TO EXPLOITATION, PRIMARILY TO THE

DISADVANTAGE OF TENANTS.

WHILE THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNISES THAT MANY COMMERCIAL AND

RETAIL LANDLORDS AND TENANTS ENJOY GOOD BUSINESS

RELATIONSHIPS WHICH ARE NOT MARRED BY LEASES WHICH UNDULY

FAVOUR EITHER PARTY, THE EVIDENCE IS THAT THERE REMAINS A

SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF COMMERCIAL AND RETAIL TENANCY

ARRANGEMENTS WHICH LEAVE TENANTS, IN PARTICULAR, VERY

VULNERABLE.

THE HIGH PERCENTAGE OF RETAIL OUTLETS SITUATED IN LARGE

SHOPPING CENTRES, WHICH IS A PARTICULAR CHARACTERISTIC OF

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