A political journalist who criticised landlords for using rental income to pay their mortgages omitted the fact that she also owns an investment property.
The Guardian’s political reporter Amy Remeikis appeared on the Channel 10 show earlier this week and said she was angry at “capitalism” and “being used to pay off other people’s assets”.
“There are seven million of us (tenants) and most of us are quite angry at the way we have been treated,” said Remeikis, who currently rents in Canberra.
‘It’s not necessarily about tenants versus landlords, because I know everyone is feeling housing stress right now, but I am very angry about the policies that have allowed me to be used to essentially pay off someone else’s assets.
‘As a tenant, you worry about something not being up to par, because maybe your lease isn’t being renewed or maybe your rent is going up by more than $300 a week.
“These are real considerations because a house is not an asset, it is a home and we should enable long-term security for all people regardless of their housing situation.”
Despite delivering a scathing speech on behalf of the tenants, Ms Remeikis failed to mention that she was also a property investor.
According to The Australian, she co-owns a two-bedroom unit in Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast.
Guardian political reporter Amy Remeikis (pictured right) said renters like her were “quite angry” about the government’s approach to the housing crisis during an interview with The Project.
The Queensland Land Titles Office confirmed the political journalist has co-owned the property with a former partner since 2007.
The political journalist did not answer questions about why she decided not to reveal her status as a real estate investor during The Project interview.
During the interview he criticised politicians for their approach to the housing crisis.
“The government and the opposition, many of whom own multiple properties, are less involved in this (the rental crisis),” he said.
During the interview, Ms Remeikis said she was angry that tenants, like herself, were “being used to pay off other people’s assets” (pictured, prospective tenants queuing at an open inspection in Bondi).
‘In fact, it has never been a priority concern for politicians before.
‘They’ve focused so much on home ownership and trying to get people to view their homes as assets that they haven’t really thought about the people who are paying for rental properties.’
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ms Remeikis for comment.
