National retailer embarrassed selling illegal smoke alarms in Townsville

Townsville residents are being warned about buying out of date smoke alarms from local retail and hardware outlets.

A local property owner reported purchasing non-complaint products from a local retailer this month, despite the fact new tougher smoke alarm laws were introduced in Queensland from the 1st January 2017.

Queensland's Minister for Fire and Emergency Services, the Hon. Bill Byrnes, said; "although residents would have up to 10 years to install the new alarms, everyone should take action to update their alarm system as soon as possible."

TREN can confirm that residents have been buying redundant smoke alarms from one of
Australia's largest hardware retailers as late as the first week in February 2017, over a month after the new laws were passed but at least 6 months since businesses had been warned of the impending changes.

One of the homeowners who contacted TREN about this public safety story presented one of the three alarms she purchased, and it clearly displays on the back side of the device, an expiry date of "12 July 2016". (see image below) The proof of purchase was also presented.

The smoke alarm was purchased from the retailer in February 2017 with "Quell Ionisation Smoke Alarm", "Manufactured in China for Chubb and Security Pty Ltd", who is based in New South Wales, clearly displayed on the back of the device.

Non-compliant ionisation smoke alarm
Image: TREN

When TREN alerted the retailer to the bungle a very pleasant and well-informed employee said: "this alarm is out of stock and non-compliant." When the employee was asked, "What about the other alarms that have already been installed?" The employee said: "they must be returned with your receipt and we'll give you a refund".

Many residents that have purchased the old ionisation alarms for their own homes reported that they feel confused, or completely not informed about what to look for when purchasing fire safety devices. This comes as the trend of online shopping is growing at a fast pace where cheap illegal products can be purchased very easily. No wonder consumers are confused and concerned about their safety and legal obligations.

Image: Queensland Fire and Emergency Services

Even when the labels on the ionisation smoke alarm in the above image are compared to the QFES website recommendations, it is understandable how residents could justify their confusion. The labelling of the smoke alarms is unclear and ambiguous based on the QFES recommendations on their website.

The yellow triangle hazard system on the homeowners' non-compliant alarm, which is not recommended, does not even appear on the QFES guidelines. Instead, a yellow square label is shown. And, even though the five tick Australia Standards symbol and Activefire Certified certification icon are shown on the QFES guidelines to be safe, the non-compliant ionisation alarm displays them.

Residents that are concerned and may not understand the new smoke alarm laws are advised to contact a smoke alarm installation professional, licensed electrical contractor or consult the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services website for further information. You can also contact the manufacturer with questions. For example, Quell has number to call 1800 654 435.

But with residents finding even the QFES website guidelines confusing, residents are encouraged to call a professional QFES "firefighter" to conduct a "Safehome" visit to receive advice about the best locations to place fire alarms and suggest other fire safety initiatives around the home.

To request a Safehome visit call 13QGOV or visit 
https://www.qfes.qld.gov.au/community-safety/freeprograms/Pages/safehome.aspx'

Townsville sold out by PM Turnbull Smart City Deal

On the face of the Turnbull Government's Smart Cities Plan and the execution of the first "City Deal" in Australia by the Mayor of Townsville, Jenny Hill and Premier of Queensland, Annstacia Palaszczuk, the residents and property investors of Townsville can be justifiably excited by the promise of more jobs and prosperity.

Now with a solid commitment of Federal funding, accompanied by the personal attention of Australia's commander in chief, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, executing a nationally strategic innovation reform in the midst of a struggling regional City brings with it invaluable public influence and political power.

Grasping a sharp looking glossy brochure focusing on big funding project deals, and a well orchestrated signing ceremony coordinated purposefully in front a national Canberra press gallery, the first "City Deal" of its type was indeed an epic event in local political history and a moment to savior for two pioneering female leaders.

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However by deed of acquiesce or maliciousness, voters are being deceived or woman-handled with the undisclosed detail of the underlying program being a "citizen-centric" data gathering technology, which could be robbing people of their own property rights using personal identity information.

"..become an unintended volunteer in the largest civil and commercial integrated network of digital and robotic systems ever conceived in Australia."

The average local taxpayer is being lead to believe that department heads and their silo cultures will be picking up the phone more often than usual. Department line managers and technical experts sharing files with each other on an as free basis. It is a lot more sophisticated than the usual glossy political funding announcement of projects like the North Queensland Stadium and Townsville Eastern Access Rail Corridor.

Needless to say to local ratepayers enduring strict water restrictions, some of whom are watching their favourite plants dying before their eyes as the brown grass crackles under their feet, the most urgent and immediate need is the construction of greater water infrastructure for the City. Unlike the former two projects, this priority infrastructure has not received a funding commitment from any level of government apart from the typical preliminary impact studies.

Despite the fact the City has less than 15% of its water capacity remaining in the Ross Dam catchment, the Mayor and Premier have been caught sleeping at the "water wheel". So a glossy funding launch with the Prime Minister doesn't get any better then perhaps a photo opportunity at the local childcare centre during an election campaign.

In this climate of political sensitivity, a cash grab from the federal purse is a sure way to divert the media and public attention away from a highly emotive local services issue, including economic recession and an out of control crime report. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister gets to pull the wool over the eyes of the Mayor and Premier with his personal data-centric Smart City Plan.

If this isn't enough to ponder, the signature project of the Smart Cities funding announcement was the North Queensland Stadium and entertainment precinct. Queensland and the Commonwealth are contributing funds while the Council is offering the land. Yet the medium term economic value-add to the economy of Townsville from this project is nearly negligible. In fact local businesses report this week that tendering on the design and construction works was not feasible, confirming profits and jobs will not be filled by existing local residents.

Private business and investors have lost confidence and trust in the local leadership. Read the Townsville Real Estate Blog (TREB) article; North Queensland Stadium Vision Impaired here.

http://townsvillerealestate.blogspot.com.au/2016/09/north-queensland-stadium-vision-impaired_49.html

Downsizing the bureaucracy, treating the paralysis of administration and governance, and focusing on a stronger economy for the greater good is a refreshing concept for small to medium size business.

Achieving productivity and greater efficiency in the systems could be partly true of the Smart Cities Plan. But robust planning and development processes still require decisions to be taken by bureaucrats, officers and Ministers representing a wide variety of national and public interests.

So what is the practical vision of a "City Deal" that could bring sustained economic benefit?

Under a Smart Cities Plan, would the Adani Coal mine project been approved faster and in a more timely manner to enable better management of job stimulation? At least before the 15,000 workers abandoned the City after Clive Palmer's Queensland Nickel fell into administration would have been excellent management. 

Is it going to appease the political jousting, influence the Canberra or Brisbane-centric politicians to prioritize funding to safe seats over marginal seats, minimize the protest movement's capacity to disrupt development or speed up the court processes in the midst of a native title, heritage or environmental challenge?

In the absence of cynicism over healthy skepticism, a deeper, more secretive agenda is in motion as part of the Federal Government's economic strategy. And neither the Prime Minister, Mayor or Premier (Queensland's first female leaders in their respective entities) are willing to disclose the full exposure of the Smart Cities Plan to its citizens because of the possible fallout to their political skin and service legacy.

Effectively the Mayor and Premier have conceded to the Prime Minister that their departments and their own leadership is inadequately capable of making tough strategic decisions, hence the lack of autonomous influence in attracting private capital interests to the City, their bungled infrastructure and business services policies and now an acquittal of conscience or even malicious disregard for the people's personal security and safety.

The length to which all three levels of government are promoting a coordinated approach to Federal policy implementation in Townsville is unprecedented. It is refreshing to see, and if the "big data" depository and smart technology behind the Smart Cities Plan works, the size of government itself and the bureaucracy could be more efficiently outsourced due to advances in robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) and digital applications.

Again, more jobs lost yet more profit gained by multi-national corporations like IBM, KPMG, Intel, or Huawei, China's largest network and communication services provider who are inventing and manufacturing the technology. Yes these companies are the partners of the British inspired Smart City policy. Unless Townsville attracts the companies that design, build or distribute the technology, or win the owners of the networks to our region, the implementation of Smart Cities in a regional economy with less than 200,000 in population could be unfeasible.  

It is the plan of the Turnbull government to embed on every material object and person in the City micro sensors. If a person unknowingly acquiesce to an impromptu push notification on their personal device, they too will become an unintended volunteer in the largest civil and commercially integrated network of digital and robotic systems ever conceived in Australia.

Townsville Real Estate Blog is a strong advocate of building new technologies, creating new industries and sustainable economic opportunities for North Queensland. This has been reported openly on this platform and across various social media services.

"Building a resourceful, resilient and technically superior enterprise culture in the City will ensure second and third tier employment and business growth for decades to come." (Townsville Real Estate Blog)

So what is the Smart Cities Plan really all about? How does a local public service leadership disregard their citizens personal identity risks? And, why isn't Townsville attracting private capital interest that create sustained Jobs in the City?

Stay turned for more insight and information about the Smart Cities Plan and other issues impacting the Townsville Real Estate market.

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Tenant Sub-Letting to Air BnB Accommodation Risks Landlord Properties

Queensland investors with Tenants sub-letting all or part of a dwelling to Airbnb customers could be left exposed unless special wording is applied to Residential Tenancy Agreements.

The issue has become a hot topic in Victoria because the Supreme Court had overturned the tribunal decision.

In the Victoria case, the tenant sub-let the entire premises through an Airbnb rental website. Upon receiving this knowledge, the Landlord served a termination notice on the tenant.

The Tribunal ruled in favour of the tenant, but subsequently the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the Landlord based on the fact that the Airbnb agreement between the tenant and the Airbnb guests was for occupation of the whole of the premises.

The supplier of real estate agent agreements and contracts ADL Forms said; "This may indicate a tenant occupying premises under a residential tenancy agreement in Victoria may be able to license a portion of the premises under an Airbnb agreement without the Landlord's permission."

The Forms and Agent Advocacy service provider together their legal teams, have put their "Tenancy Agreements, Australia wide, under the microscope to ensure they keep landlords protected against a tenant sub-letting and/or licensing all or part of a rental premises without the Landlord's permission."

It's the opinion of ADL that the existing RTA Form 18a does not adequately cover the Airbnb situation. Special terms therefore have been added to better protect the Landlord against unauthorised sub-letting or licensing in respect of Airbnb or similar online service.

In accordance with the ADL special terms:

"The Tenant may not grant other person’s a licence to occupy or use the whole or part of the premises for the Tenant’s commercial gain, whether by written or verbal agreement with the other person/s, without the Lessor’s consent having been first obtained. The Lessor must act reasonably."

Property managers are still advised to take their responsibly seriously and take action where unauthorised sub-letting or licensing by a tenant of one of their managed properties is detected.

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Landlords seeking to managed their own properties are warned of these risks. Especially if adequate general and special terms are not considered and executed in writing in accordance with relevant residential tenancy and/or rooming accommodation legislation.

Although some Landlords seek to minimise their costs to maximise profits, or don't have faith in professional managers, implementing a proper risk management system for your investment properties could save you more money then you could anticipate.

In some instances, damages or losses resulting from a tenancy not subject to proper risk mitigation principals by the Landlord could be jeopardising their insurance policies because of some of the fine print in the insurance policy.