In 2024, housing and tenancy related matters were the most common non-NDIS issues that advocates assisted clients with, accounting for almost 10% of all advocacy provided over the year. The number of advocacy matters, and the amount of time spent on these matters, also grew across the year. In addition, through QAI’s coordination of Disability Advocacy Pathways information and referral service, we responded to 82 housing related enquires, comprising 14% of all Pathways referrals.
The Queensland Government data shows that on 31 March 2025, the Social Housing Register had 28,486 housing register applications, with 12,776 of these applications (or about 45%) being household applications including persons with identified disability. These figures, and QIDAN data below, highlight the scale and urgency of housing challenges faced by people with disability.
Based on our expertise, we refute the Queensland Productivity Commission’s (QPC) preliminary recommendation 11 which states that “Unless it is demonstrated through consultation that energy efficiency and accessibility standards made as part of the NCC 2022 provide a net benefit to the Queensland community, the Queensland Government should amend the Queensland Development Code to opt-out of these provisions (that is, make them voluntary)”. Instead, we call on the Queensland Government to maintain mandatory implementation of Livable Housing Design Standard, as well as on the implementation of the Queensland Government’s commitment to build 50 percent of all new social housing to meet Livable Housing Design standards at Gold or Platinum level.
