Inside slumlord's shocking empire: derelict, unliveable, worth millions
A stubborn 'slumlord' hit by overdue rates for eight properties is selling off two of them, the worst of which is shockingly derelict, unliveable yet worth a fortune.
Edward 'Ted' Amos has been in and out of council and tenancy legal action for decades – which saw a decision against him in 2016 finding he owed a shocking $807,148.28 for unpaid rates and interest levied on eight properties.
He won an appeal against the decision in 2019, but that still saw him owe about half that amount – hundreds of thousands that authorities have renewed pressure to chase down..
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Mr Amos – who did not comment when returning a call made to him – has been in trouble with authorities previously including claims he made tenants responsible for repairs to rented property with several homes left to crumble.
With the revenue office now hot on his heels, he has put two of his eight homes up for sale via an expressions of interest campaign he is running himself – both of which are worth a fortune.
The first is a lucrative crumbling house in a stunning location in bluechip Ascot where the median house price is $2.525m; and the second is a massive 1,000sq m plus block in nearby Albion – where the house price median is $1.27m.
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Both suburbs saw high demand even before the pandemic given their location within 6km of the Brisbane CBD, but since then Ascot has seen prices rise a whopping 83 per cent in the past five years and Albion houses are up 48.8 per cent in that time.
Regardless of how derelict the homes are, Mr Amos – now in his mid-80s – could fetch a fortune for those two alone – let along his empire of eight properties all of which were mentioned in the overdue rates action by authorities.
Valuation estimates put the properties as high as $10m plus in today's market.
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Mr Amos described the Ascot property as being a 'renovator's dream' in his listing – with the block directly across the road from the historic Eagle Farm Racecourse, in fact just 50m away from its entrance as well as Racecourse Road where shops like Maggi T and a multitude of restaurants, supermarkets and professional offices are located.
'Positioned in one of Brisbane's most prestigious suburbs, this charming timber character home on a level 405sq m block presents an outstanding opportunity for renovators, builders, or anyone looking to create their dream home in a premium lifestyle location,' he said in the listing.
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'With council approval already granted to demolish or remove the existing dwelling, buyers are free to either restore the original residence or start fresh with a custom new build (STCA).'
The level site has no development application currently lodged, and is zoned for low density medium development, which translates to one to two townhouses or mixed use developments of up to three storeys.
Even as far back as 2011, the property was being marketed as 'reno or demo' with 'the essentials for you to turn it into a money maker'.
In the time since he won the appeal against council, a four bedroom house has been built in the backyard of his immediate neighbour which was then sold for $1.13m in 2020 and is currently valued as high as $2.03m.
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The second property Mr Amos is seeking expressions of interest on is in Albion and potentially worth a millions, given it is a massive 1,067sq m block with potential to sub-divide in a highly desireable area – and what he described as 'amazing river and city views'.
Mr Amos bought the property for a mere $20,000 in January 1973, according to property records, and ran five units out of a federation-era house with four car spots in the back of the property.
He listed the property for sale for the first time in 60 years via an expressions of interest campaign, describing it as having 'incredible potential'.
'Currently configured as five self-contained apartments returning a combined $2,150 per week (low rent), the property provides solid rental income from day one. Alternatively, it could be transformed back into a magnificent five-bedroom family home with three bathrooms and ample living space,' is how he described it.
It 'currently has enclosed verandahs but could easily be restored to original period style', and also has what he called a 'versatile zoning and development upside (subject to council approval).'
'Whether youre looking to invest, landbank, develop, or restore this beauty into a grand residence, opportunities like this don't come often.'
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"Our budget has a sensible pathway to surplus without selling any assets," Jeremy Rockliff told reporters at the Transend substation in Devonport on Saturday. Pressed for details, he spoke of a "right-sized public service" and other efficiencies to save money, and drew a line through new taxes and cuts to infrastructure spending. The premier has ruled out privatisations in an attempt to diffuse opposition attacks, with the possibility of selling some government entities among Labor's reasons for moving a successful vote of no confidence against the state's leader. Prominent economist Saul Eslake had been preparing a report on viable opportunities to sell government-owned businesses to support Tasmania's troubled finances. Mr Rockliff has now put a stop to that work and promised legislation ensuring any sales would need two-thirds majority support in parliament. 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Pressed for details, he spoke of a "right-sized public service" and other efficiencies to save money, and drew a line through new taxes and cuts to infrastructure spending. The premier has ruled out privatisations in an attempt to diffuse opposition attacks, with the possibility of selling some government entities among Labor's reasons for moving a successful vote of no confidence against the state's leader. Prominent economist Saul Eslake had been preparing a report on viable opportunities to sell government-owned businesses to support Tasmania's troubled finances. Mr Rockliff has now put a stop to that work and promised legislation ensuring any sales would need two-thirds majority support in parliament. "Labor has forced this early election on the deceitful campaign that our government intends to divest government-owned businesses - before Mr Eslake's work is even completed," he said on Saturday. 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Despite feuding over the state's finances, it's the stadium that looms as the biggest issue. The roofed Macquarie Point proposal is a condition of an AFL licence, with the state government responsible for delivery and cost overruns. Labor and the Liberals support the stadium but recent polls suggest Tasmanians are not sold. Both leaders voiced support for the AFL team when asked if they would give up the stadium to secure backing from crossbenchers opposed to it. Mr Winter said he remained open to all stadium options including the so-called 2.0 proposal on reclaimed land on the River Derwent. Roland Browne, spokesperson for the anti-stadium Our Place group, told AAP they would campaign if there was an election. Firebrand senator Jacqui Lambie, independent federal MP Andrew Wilkie and acclaimed author Richard Flanagan are among well-known Tasmanians to front their cause. Mr Browne said he foresaw a scenario where one or both of the major parties would join the Greens in opposing the project. Stadium supporters remain hopeful the Devils, the planned AFL outfit, can win over stadium opponents. Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff has offered confidence and supply to Mr Winter to form government but the opposition leader has already ruled out a deal with the minor party. Repairing Tasmania's public finances does not hinge on selling government assets, the premier has asserted after caving to pressure on his party's privatisation exploration. "Our budget has a sensible pathway to surplus without selling any assets," Jeremy Rockliff told reporters at the Transend substation in Devonport on Saturday. Pressed for details, he spoke of a "right-sized public service" and other efficiencies to save money, and drew a line through new taxes and cuts to infrastructure spending. 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Labor and the Liberals support the stadium but recent polls suggest Tasmanians are not sold. Both leaders voiced support for the AFL team when asked if they would give up the stadium to secure backing from crossbenchers opposed to it. Mr Winter said he remained open to all stadium options including the so-called 2.0 proposal on reclaimed land on the River Derwent. Roland Browne, spokesperson for the anti-stadium Our Place group, told AAP they would campaign if there was an election. Firebrand senator Jacqui Lambie, independent federal MP Andrew Wilkie and acclaimed author Richard Flanagan are among well-known Tasmanians to front their cause. Mr Browne said he foresaw a scenario where one or both of the major parties would join the Greens in opposing the project. Stadium supporters remain hopeful the Devils, the planned AFL outfit, can win over stadium opponents. 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Premier cans privatisations amid political turmoil
No state-owned businesses will be sold off, the Tasmanian premier has declared, following a week of political turmoil. Liberal leader Jeremy Rockliff has ruled out privatisations in an attempt to diffuse opposition attacks, with the possibility of selling some government entities among Labor's reasons for moving a vote of no confidence against the premier. Prominent economist Saul Eslake had been preparing a report on viable opportunities to sell government-owned businesses to support the state's troubled finances. Mr Rockliff has now put a stop to that work. "Labor has forced this early election on the deceitful campaign that our government intends to divest government-owned businesses – before Mr Eslake's work is even completed," he said on Saturday. But Labor shadow treasurer Josh Willie said privatising government assets was "in their DNA" regardless of the latest statements from the premier. "They didn't take it to the last election and they tried to sell Tasmanian assets," he told reporters in Hobart on Saturday. "So they will try to do it again, and the only way to stop them is to not vote for them." The political ructions look to set send Tasmanians back to the polls for the fourth time in seven years unless the Liberal party opts to remove Mr Rockliff and negotiate a new deal with crossbenchers. An election could be called on Tuesday. Senior Liberal figures including Senator Jonno Duniam are calling the prospect of a snap election "nuts". "I would have thought every effort should be put into not going to an election ... the people that lose out most in all this - forget the parliamentarians - it's the people of Tassie," he told ABC Radio. Analysts tip an unpredictable campaign given the nature of the political drama, with candidates from the federal election in May adding another dimension. Ex-federal Liberal MP Bridget Archer is viewed as a likely candidate in Bass should Mr Rockliff hang on. Anti-salmon independent Peter George, who ran Julie Collins close in the safe federal seat of Franklin, told AAP he was considering his options. Opposition leader Dean Winter moved the no-confidence motion due to the state budget, which included ballooning deficits and debt forecasts and the proposals to privatise state assets. However, it's the stadium that looms as the biggest issue. Veteran political campaigner Brad Stansfield, who has worked on the Liberals' last four election wins, said it would be issue No.1. "At the last election ... we mostly kept it hidden from the campaign," he said on his FontCast podcast. "This campaign is going to be the referendum on the AFL stadium that we haven't yet had. It is coming like a steam train." The roofed Macquarie Point stadium is a condition of an AFL licence, with the state government responsible for delivery and cost overruns. But recent polls suggest Tasmanians are not sold on the need for a new stadium. Labor and the Liberals support the stadium, but Mr Stansfield said Mr Rockliff would be the one to pay the electoral price. "If you don't like the stadium, you will vote against the Liberals," he said. Roland Browne, spokesperson for the anti-stadium Our Place group, told AAP they would campaign if there was an election. Mr Browne said he could see a scenario where one or both of the major parties would join the Greens in opposing the project. No state-owned businesses will be sold off, the Tasmanian premier has declared, following a week of political turmoil. Liberal leader Jeremy Rockliff has ruled out privatisations in an attempt to diffuse opposition attacks, with the possibility of selling some government entities among Labor's reasons for moving a vote of no confidence against the premier. Prominent economist Saul Eslake had been preparing a report on viable opportunities to sell government-owned businesses to support the state's troubled finances. Mr Rockliff has now put a stop to that work. "Labor has forced this early election on the deceitful campaign that our government intends to divest government-owned businesses – before Mr Eslake's work is even completed," he said on Saturday. But Labor shadow treasurer Josh Willie said privatising government assets was "in their DNA" regardless of the latest statements from the premier. "They didn't take it to the last election and they tried to sell Tasmanian assets," he told reporters in Hobart on Saturday. "So they will try to do it again, and the only way to stop them is to not vote for them." The political ructions look to set send Tasmanians back to the polls for the fourth time in seven years unless the Liberal party opts to remove Mr Rockliff and negotiate a new deal with crossbenchers. An election could be called on Tuesday. Senior Liberal figures including Senator Jonno Duniam are calling the prospect of a snap election "nuts". "I would have thought every effort should be put into not going to an election ... the people that lose out most in all this - forget the parliamentarians - it's the people of Tassie," he told ABC Radio. Analysts tip an unpredictable campaign given the nature of the political drama, with candidates from the federal election in May adding another dimension. Ex-federal Liberal MP Bridget Archer is viewed as a likely candidate in Bass should Mr Rockliff hang on. Anti-salmon independent Peter George, who ran Julie Collins close in the safe federal seat of Franklin, told AAP he was considering his options. Opposition leader Dean Winter moved the no-confidence motion due to the state budget, which included ballooning deficits and debt forecasts and the proposals to privatise state assets. However, it's the stadium that looms as the biggest issue. Veteran political campaigner Brad Stansfield, who has worked on the Liberals' last four election wins, said it would be issue No.1. "At the last election ... we mostly kept it hidden from the campaign," he said on his FontCast podcast. "This campaign is going to be the referendum on the AFL stadium that we haven't yet had. It is coming like a steam train." The roofed Macquarie Point stadium is a condition of an AFL licence, with the state government responsible for delivery and cost overruns. But recent polls suggest Tasmanians are not sold on the need for a new stadium. Labor and the Liberals support the stadium, but Mr Stansfield said Mr Rockliff would be the one to pay the electoral price. "If you don't like the stadium, you will vote against the Liberals," he said. Roland Browne, spokesperson for the anti-stadium Our Place group, told AAP they would campaign if there was an election. Mr Browne said he could see a scenario where one or both of the major parties would join the Greens in opposing the project. No state-owned businesses will be sold off, the Tasmanian premier has declared, following a week of political turmoil. Liberal leader Jeremy Rockliff has ruled out privatisations in an attempt to diffuse opposition attacks, with the possibility of selling some government entities among Labor's reasons for moving a vote of no confidence against the premier. Prominent economist Saul Eslake had been preparing a report on viable opportunities to sell government-owned businesses to support the state's troubled finances. Mr Rockliff has now put a stop to that work. "Labor has forced this early election on the deceitful campaign that our government intends to divest government-owned businesses – before Mr Eslake's work is even completed," he said on Saturday. But Labor shadow treasurer Josh Willie said privatising government assets was "in their DNA" regardless of the latest statements from the premier. "They didn't take it to the last election and they tried to sell Tasmanian assets," he told reporters in Hobart on Saturday. "So they will try to do it again, and the only way to stop them is to not vote for them." The political ructions look to set send Tasmanians back to the polls for the fourth time in seven years unless the Liberal party opts to remove Mr Rockliff and negotiate a new deal with crossbenchers. An election could be called on Tuesday. Senior Liberal figures including Senator Jonno Duniam are calling the prospect of a snap election "nuts". "I would have thought every effort should be put into not going to an election ... the people that lose out most in all this - forget the parliamentarians - it's the people of Tassie," he told ABC Radio. Analysts tip an unpredictable campaign given the nature of the political drama, with candidates from the federal election in May adding another dimension. Ex-federal Liberal MP Bridget Archer is viewed as a likely candidate in Bass should Mr Rockliff hang on. Anti-salmon independent Peter George, who ran Julie Collins close in the safe federal seat of Franklin, told AAP he was considering his options. Opposition leader Dean Winter moved the no-confidence motion due to the state budget, which included ballooning deficits and debt forecasts and the proposals to privatise state assets. However, it's the stadium that looms as the biggest issue. Veteran political campaigner Brad Stansfield, who has worked on the Liberals' last four election wins, said it would be issue No.1. "At the last election ... we mostly kept it hidden from the campaign," he said on his FontCast podcast. "This campaign is going to be the referendum on the AFL stadium that we haven't yet had. It is coming like a steam train." The roofed Macquarie Point stadium is a condition of an AFL licence, with the state government responsible for delivery and cost overruns. But recent polls suggest Tasmanians are not sold on the need for a new stadium. Labor and the Liberals support the stadium, but Mr Stansfield said Mr Rockliff would be the one to pay the electoral price. "If you don't like the stadium, you will vote against the Liberals," he said. Roland Browne, spokesperson for the anti-stadium Our Place group, told AAP they would campaign if there was an election. Mr Browne said he could see a scenario where one or both of the major parties would join the Greens in opposing the project. No state-owned businesses will be sold off, the Tasmanian premier has declared, following a week of political turmoil. Liberal leader Jeremy Rockliff has ruled out privatisations in an attempt to diffuse opposition attacks, with the possibility of selling some government entities among Labor's reasons for moving a vote of no confidence against the premier. Prominent economist Saul Eslake had been preparing a report on viable opportunities to sell government-owned businesses to support the state's troubled finances. Mr Rockliff has now put a stop to that work. "Labor has forced this early election on the deceitful campaign that our government intends to divest government-owned businesses – before Mr Eslake's work is even completed," he said on Saturday. But Labor shadow treasurer Josh Willie said privatising government assets was "in their DNA" regardless of the latest statements from the premier. "They didn't take it to the last election and they tried to sell Tasmanian assets," he told reporters in Hobart on Saturday. "So they will try to do it again, and the only way to stop them is to not vote for them." The political ructions look to set send Tasmanians back to the polls for the fourth time in seven years unless the Liberal party opts to remove Mr Rockliff and negotiate a new deal with crossbenchers. An election could be called on Tuesday. Senior Liberal figures including Senator Jonno Duniam are calling the prospect of a snap election "nuts". "I would have thought every effort should be put into not going to an election ... the people that lose out most in all this - forget the parliamentarians - it's the people of Tassie," he told ABC Radio. Analysts tip an unpredictable campaign given the nature of the political drama, with candidates from the federal election in May adding another dimension. Ex-federal Liberal MP Bridget Archer is viewed as a likely candidate in Bass should Mr Rockliff hang on. Anti-salmon independent Peter George, who ran Julie Collins close in the safe federal seat of Franklin, told AAP he was considering his options. Opposition leader Dean Winter moved the no-confidence motion due to the state budget, which included ballooning deficits and debt forecasts and the proposals to privatise state assets. However, it's the stadium that looms as the biggest issue. Veteran political campaigner Brad Stansfield, who has worked on the Liberals' last four election wins, said it would be issue No.1. "At the last election ... we mostly kept it hidden from the campaign," he said on his FontCast podcast. "This campaign is going to be the referendum on the AFL stadium that we haven't yet had. It is coming like a steam train." The roofed Macquarie Point stadium is a condition of an AFL licence, with the state government responsible for delivery and cost overruns. But recent polls suggest Tasmanians are not sold on the need for a new stadium. Labor and the Liberals support the stadium, but Mr Stansfield said Mr Rockliff would be the one to pay the electoral price. "If you don't like the stadium, you will vote against the Liberals," he said. Roland Browne, spokesperson for the anti-stadium Our Place group, told AAP they would campaign if there was an election. Mr Browne said he could see a scenario where one or both of the major parties would join the Greens in opposing the project.
Sky News AU
12 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Calls grow for besieged Tasmanian Premier to resign after no-confidence loss, despite Jeremy Rockliff ruling out privatising state-owned assets
Tasmania's political quagmire has continued to escalate days after a no-confidence vote shockingly passed the house, with mining and business bodies joining Independent MPs in calling for Premier Jeremy Rockliff to be dumped as Liberal leader. A vote of no-confidence passed the house by the slimmest of margins on Thursday, with Labor speaker Michelle O'Byrne casting the deciding ballot after stating she could not vote in favour of a Liberal government. Tasmanians will now have to wait until next week to find out when they will return to the polls for the second time in as little as 14 months, with Mr Rockliff to visit the state Governor on Tuesday. Both houses of Parliament will also convene on Tuesday to pass emergency budget supply bills to ensure the state can sufficiently pay its debts between the end of financial year and the conclusion of the election, with the poll to then be called immediately after. However, Independent MP Craig Garland insisted for Mr Rockliff to step aside ahead of the contest and allow the Liberal Party to select a new leader. 'To do otherwise would be to drag the government down and show Tasmanians the arrogance and ignorance that led to the loss of confidence in the Premier in the first place,' he said on Friday. 'If the Liberals are unwilling to form government, I call on the Labor Party to put aside politics for the best interests of Tasmania, and work with myself, and other non-government members to make this parliament work again,' he said, despite Opposition Leader Dean Winter vehemently ruling out a Coalition with the Greens. 'If the major parties aren't willing to compromise, it shows that Tasmanians must look at Independents and minor parties who have demonstrated they can make minority government work'. Small Business Council of Tasmania CEO Robert Mallett also came out swinging against Mr Rockliff on Saturday and said that despite being a 'very good Premier', he was puzzled as to why he had not yet tendered his resignation. 'Personally, I'm very disappointed for Jeremy because I know he's put his heart and soul into trying to get it right, but at the end of the day, again, for the state, we would be better off with a new leader,' he said. 'He could have stepped down as Premier and the Parliamentary Liberal Party could have chosen another Premier'. Mr Mallet, whose body represents over 42,000 small businesses said the ongoing political instability was untenable and that there were 'some very experienced parliamentarians in the party' who could serve as Liberal leader. CEO of the Tasmanian Minerals, Manufacturing and Energy Council Ray Mostogl also reiterated that elections damaged confidence in the private sector and that the poll would further delay a crucial ruling on the Marinus Link, and several other pending business decisions. 'Jeremy is a remarkable person and I think that's a view that's held by many people of all colours in politics, so this is not personal he's a great guy,' he said. 'The point is they've been voted in, there's policies that they've had election promises that they made and we need to let that run its course." Mr Rockliff has remained defiant in his bid to lead the Liberals to the winter poll and on Saturday announced there would be no sale of state-owned companies if he won the election, of which was a key reason the no-confidence motion was advanced by Labor. "There will be no privatisation under the Tasmanian Liberal government," Mr Rockliff said in a statement, assuring the plan had been abandoned for good. 'There will be no asset sales under the Tasmanian Liberal Government,' he said. 'Labor has forced this early election on the deceitful campaign that our government intends to divest government-owned businesses – before Mr Eslake's work is even completed'. The government had commissioned independent economist Saul Eslake to determine which state owned assets could potentially be sold off, yet a number of critical enterprises including Port Arthur, Hydro Tasmania, the Spirit of Tasmania operator TT-Line and TasRacing were explicitly ruled out.
