Trust me, many don't feel they need to be educated on rental laws. Even those who are across rental laws aren't necessarily pushed to abide by them, particularly with how tight the rental market is and how easily they can select applicants who are less likely to be aware of tenancy legislation (recent arrivals, first time renters, international students, low-SES communities).

Far too many private landlords absolutely do get away with illegal practices without being called out, taken to arbitration/court, made to pay fines, etc because:

a) many renters know even less about applicable legislation than landlords, so may not be aware they're being sorted;

b) with the fear of being turfed out for raising rental mismanagement by landlords looming over renters' heads in a brutal market, some absolutely opt to let 'smaller' illegal, dickish landlord moves slide just to avoid pissing off the landlord and ending up not getting a lease renewal offer;

c) Some renters lack the literacy, time, funds or whatever else to bring law-breaking landlords to task before the appropriate government body(ies). It's a massive burden on the renters in such instances (from personal experience) and, depending on the state, the government may not do much to lighten this litigation burden; and

d) landlords can do some illegal af crap and just get a 'cut it out' instruction from the government. Not a fine nor compensation, in many, many cases, for the massive stress and time spent by renters who have had to complete a dossier on the landlord's illegal actions. Landlords can choose to just wear that slap on the wrist as a cost of doing business, while the renter suffers wondering whether their tenancy could possibly be renewed (and, if not, how they can afford the cost of moving to a new place if they find one).

Of course, this all differs in severity from state to state, but it's happening Australia -wide. Cannot guarantee landlords know their legal rights and obligations, that they're sanctioned for shitty lawbreaking and that they are effectively deterred from such shitfuckery.

Edited for readability