Guy Barnett, Minister for Small Business, Trade and Consumer Affairs & Jo Palmer, Liberal Member for Rosevears, 3 March 2026

Legislation Tabled to Improve Protections for Long-Term Caravan Park Residents

The Rockliff Liberal Government is delivering significant and important reforms for long-term residents in caravan parks, with the introduction of the Residential Parks Bill 2026 today.

Minister for Small Business, Trade and Consumer Affairs, Guy Barnett, said the Bill will provide clear legal rights and protections for long-term caravan park residents.

“We have acted to ensure that there will be protections in place for long-term residents. and fair and transparent rules for park owners,” Minister Barnett said.

“This has been a complex and major reform and I want to thank all of those who have participated so constructively in the development of this legislation.

“Our Government is determined to ensure that residents are protected, and I am very pleased to be delivering this important reform for Tasmania.

“This Bill delivers balanced, fair and modern reforms that support residents and park owners, recognising the role these parks play in housing affordability and the visitor economy.

“It is important we get the balance right, providing much-needed protections for residents while also ensuring operators can continue to provide the parks and services that so many Tasmanians and visitors across the State enjoy.”

Liberal Member for Rosevears, Jo Palmer, said it was an honour to work with and advocate for the Beauty Point community.

“Together, we have worked hard to deliver this important outcome for the residents.

“This is a huge win for the Beauty Point community and the residents.”

The reforms include:

  • Improving fundamental rights for park residents, including secure occupation, quiet enjoyment, 24-hour access to essential facilities, a clean and well-maintained park, and fair rules for alterations and owner entry – while setting clear obligations for care, behaviour, and guest responsibility
  • Clear responsibilities for park residents, including keeping sites clean, respecting neighbours, paying rent on time, following park rules, and ensuring guests behave appropriately- helping maintain safe, fair and well-managed communities
  • Strengthening protections for residents by banning unfair fees, capping bonds at four weeks’ rent, setting clear rules for rent increases and refunds, and ensuring transparency in utility charges
  • Providing the Tasmanian Civil & Administrative Tribunal (TASCAT) clear powers to resolve park disputes quickly and fairly-covering compliance, compensation, agreement changes, and possession orders-while protecting residents from retaliatory action

Media Release – Cecily Rosol MP, Greens Member for Bass, 3 March 2026

Greens Welcome Caravan Park Resident Reforms

While we welcome the Liberals’ tabling of a bill to provide protections for long-term residents of caravan parks, it’s long overdue. For more than a year and a half, we’ve been raising the lack of protection for long-term residents of caravan parks.

For too long, Lutruwita / Tasmania has been the only state without protections for long-stay residents of caravan parks. It’s had real consequences at Beauty Point Tourist Park, where residents have been left vulnerable to eviction with little notice.

This has been really difficult for the residents, many of whom are elderly and unwell. They’ve been left in a totally unfair situation, where their home could be taken from them at only a moment’s notice.

Last year, the Greens tabled a petition with nearly three thousand signatures calling on the Liberals to protect the rights of long-term caravan park residents. This petition was signed by many supporters of the residents at Beauty Point, and other long-term caravan park residents.

When the Liberals listened to calls from the Greens and community during the last State Election and announced these reforms, we welcomed them. The tabling of these protections in Parliament is a real win for the Greens and community advocates.

We encourage the Liberal Government to progress this legislation through the Parliament as soon as possible, so long-term residents of caravan parks finally have the protections they deserve.

Media Release – Guy Barnett, Minister for Small Business, Trade and Consumer Affairs, 24 March 2026

Residential Parks Bill Passes House of Assembly

The Tasmanian Government has taken an important step toward strengthening protections for long term residents of caravan and residential parks, with the Residential Parks Bill 2026 passing the House of Assembly today.

Minister for Small Business, Trade and Consumer Affairs, Guy Barnett, said that the passage of the Bill through the House is the culmination of extensive consultation and work with residents and the community.

“We have acted to ensure there will be protections in place for long-term residents, and fair and transparent rules for park owners,” Minister Barnett said.

“This Bill delivers balanced, fair and modern reforms that support residents and park owners, recognising the role these parks play in housing affordability and the visitor economy.

“Our Government is determined to ensure that residents are protected, and I want to thank all of the park residents, park owners and community members who have worked with us to achieve this reform.”

Once passed, the legislation will:

  • provide clear tenancy rights and responsibilities for residents and operators
  • establish fair and transparent eviction processes
  • ensure safe and secure living conditions
  • introduce clear governance arrangements and accessible dispute resolution mechanisms.

“This Bill strikes the right balance between protecting vulnerable residents and providing certainty for park operators, supporting a more stable and sustainable residential parks sector across Tasmania,” Minister Barnett said.

The Bill now proceeds to the Legislative Council for further consideration.

Media Release – Cecily Rosol MP, Greens Member for Bass, 24 March 2026

Greens Welcome Caravan Park Resident Protections Passing HOA

The Greens welcome the passing of a bill to protect the rights of long-term residents of caravan parks through the Tasmanian House of Assembly. We’ve been pushing for government action on these much-needed reforms for more than a year and a half and are pleased to have amended the bill to give residents better rights.

Tasmania is the only state without protections for long-stay residents in caravan parks. It’s left residents in the Beauty Point Tourist Parl vulnerable to eviction, with little notice.

Residents have been left in a totally unfair situation, with their home able to be taken from under them at only a moment’s notice. This has been a really hard situation for those living at the park, many of whom are sick and elderly.

It’s why the Greens tabled a 3000-person strong petition last year calling on the Liberals to protect the rights of long-term caravan park residents. When they heard the calls of the Greens and community during the last election and committed to these reforms, we welcomed it.

We’re pleased to have amended the bill to require a bond be held by the Rental Deposit Authority, and to allow residents to appeal rule changes and evictions to TasCAT. These are important changes to give long-stay residents of caravan parks real rights.

The passing through the lower house of these important reforms is a big win for the Greens and community advocates. We encourage our Legislative Council colleagues to pass this legislation and finally give long-term residents of caravan parks the rights they deserve.