Mackay realtor Tanya Ruggeri gets checked by FB followers after a post gone wrong

A Queensland real estate agent’s photo of a tent in a local park has caused controversy after she was accused of making light of the housing crisis. READ WHAT SHE SAID.

Part of Tanya's brand is her physical fitness, which she shares often on her social media.

A north Queensland real estate agent with 23 years experience has found herself in hot water after uploading a photo of a tent pitched in a park, along with multiple laughing emojis.

Mackay agent Tanya Ruggeri is active on her Facebook where she shares news on the housing crisis, real estate wins and images of her physical fitness.

On June 1 she made an incendiary post which has since been taken down after becoming the subject of controversy and backlash amid the tensions of a housing and homelessness crisis.

The post that started it all. Later the laughing emojis would be removed before the post was finally taken down.

In the post on her business profile, Tanya Ruggeri Real Estate, she shared a photo of a tent pitched in a park at Town Beach, asking her followers to “tell me how would market this”.

While the first comments initially played along with Ms Ruggeri’s idea, eventually the response turned sour and the post was interpreted as making light of the continuing housing shortage and homelessness crisis.

Commenter Scott Henderson wrote an offensive, personal comment aimed at Ms Ruggeri.

“You being in real estate you should know how hard people’s families are doing,” he went on to say.

“Not funny at all.”

Ms Ruggeri responded, “you insulting bully! F.U”.

Ms Ruggeri liked Mr Straw’s comment, which then drew the ire of other online bystanders.

When Ms Ruggeri drew criticism for agreeing with a comment by another follower David Straw telling people to “get a haircut and a real job” she said “yes, we all have 24 hours in the day. It is what we do with it.”

She went on to defend herself saying “I pay incredible amounts of rates every year”.

Ms Ruggeri’s full response.

“I build housing every year for the homeless.

“I work hard for my money and never have I bludged off the government or lived for free on any government land.”

Ms Ruggeri then alleged that her post was intended to draw attention to the homeless person who needed “shelter, food and care”.

This publication reached out to Ms Ruggeri with several questions.

In a short phone conversation with the Daily Mercury, Ms Ruggeri alleged that there had been no one living in the tent before threatening legal action.

Kayleigh Brewster Australian Street Aid Project CEO at launch of Mayors Ball Friday 12 April 2024 Picture: Michaela Harlow

Mackay homeless advocate and founder of the Australian Street Aid Project Kayleigh Brewster was tagged in the debate, but has kept her distance.

Speaking broadly on the issue of homelessness, Ms Brewster said, “people need to realise these people aren’t having a good time.”

“They’re suffering mentally and physically.”

Ms Ruggeri’s post has since been deleted from Facebook however a thread has been created on the Mackay Noticeboard FB page, as of writing it has 217 comments sharing screenshots of Ms Ruggeri’s comments.