CLAIMS that rife racism is blocking Aboriginal people from renting in Moree have been denounced by real estate agents, but indigenous elders suggested “elite” properties may be off limits to indigenous people.
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In an article published in a Sydney paper last week, Aboriginal woman Kelly Briggs said she had asked a white friend to rent a property for her to live in after six months of rental applications without success.
Ms Briggs, who runs popular blog The Koori Woman, attempted to rent a house in Moree with her two teenage children, but was unable to secure a house because she was “too dark”, the article said.
Artesian Stock and Real Estate director Joanne Sweedman said she frequently leased to Aboriginal clients and managed houses with the Aboriginal Land Council.
“We’re not biased or racist,” Mrs Sweedman said.
“We don’t show any discrimination. We have strict policy here – I’m not racist myself and I expect the staff to be the same.”
She said the article was sketchy on the details as to why Ms Briggs could not rent a home, and said race may not have been a factor.
Some Moree real estate agents said the allegations were not true, but declined to comment further.
Ms Briggs told the paper she first encountered racism at preschool.
“Racism in Moree is so entrenched that people don’t see it,” she said. “People were calling me ‘blackie’, ‘abo’ of course. A little girl told me I was dirty.”
A Moree elder, who chose to remain anonymous, said she knew Ms Briggs would make a good tenant. The elder said it was a difficult topic to comment on, as she wanted to bring the community together but there were still pockets of racism in the town that needed to be addressed.
“It all depends where the location of the house is,” she said.
“I know a lot of [real estate agents] wouldn’t give it to them if it was in an elite area; they wouldn’t rent it to Aboriginal people.
“There’s still a lot of discrimination and racism in this town.”
The elder said it also “depends on the real estate agent”.
“You can get some good ones, some nice people that will talk to you,” she said.
Mayor Katrina Humphries said she was “sick to death of the appalling commentary” about Moree in the metropolitan press.
“I do not believe racism is an issue; however, I do believe that housing shortages is a big issue,” Cr Humphries said.
“Racism and stupidity is unfortunately an inherent characteristic of some people in the world, but it has no place in Australia.”
When the Moree Champion put the issue to our Facebook followers this is what they had to say:
“I don’t think its a race issue... as Katrina said it’s a housing issue... we have been looking for over 12 months for something and can’t find anything,” wrote Patrick Taylor-O'Neill.
While Jordan Barratt wrote, “Isn't it the legal right of the home owner to decide on who lives in their property? ...The real estate is really only a mediator between the tenants and the owner and yes they do vent the applicants and put the best ones forward for consideration.”
Susie Meppem said she had a great real estate agent, but couldn’t say the same for the landlord, who wasn’t a local.
“If you put your property in the hands of real estate, you can stipulate what sort of people rent your property however some of the ones who can only just afford the rent are the best. Need a character reference sometimes.. I'm a renter who always takes care of where I rent and if I leave, it is always in better condition than when I moved in!”
Cr Humphries said it was a shame the particular newspaper continued to “put the boot into a community that is continually improving its health and wellbeing”.
