Building enough homes is the key. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
I’m all for human rights. In a world where they seem to be shrinking by the day, it’s great to have another one enshrined in ACT law.
As is often the way, the ACT is a leader in this field, and the Human Rights (Housing) Amendment Bill 2025, passed unanimously on Wednesday in the Legislative Assembly, is the first of its kind in the country.
So congratulations, ACT.
It’s been a long campaign to put a right to housing into law – the bill’s sponsor, Greens leader Shane Rattenbury, told the Assembly how it had been on the ACT Council of Social Services wishlist for 20 years.
Mr Rattenbury says it will mean a shift away from the commodification of housing to thinking about it as a social necessity.
Can’t argue with that. Without a roof over your head, it’s nigh on impossible to hold down a job and participate fully in Australian society.
Having come dangerously close to becoming homeless myself, I know how mortifying the threat of eviction can be.
Fortunately, unlike many people on the margins, that dark moment passed.
So, in principle, the right to housing is self-evidently a good thing.
But beyond the feel-good moment, without the housing stock to support that right, it could seem a bit hollow.
The ACT, and the country, is trying to do something about that. We all know the Barr Government’s target is 30,000 new homes by 2030, and the Commonwealth’s is 1.2 million new well‑located homes by 1 July 2029.
Yet, the demand continues to run ahead of supply.
The Housing Industry Association supported the bill but warned about the costs of regulation on business and housing affordability.
The Canberra Liberals voted for the bill but also raised several potential risks, including a lack of actual housing, as well as increased litigation and possible unintended disincentives for housing providers (which would be counterproductive if that were to happen).
This bill, which will be enacted on 1 January 2027 and then phased in over two years to provide time for the government, the private sector, and the public to adjust, will provide a foundation for when, hopefully, housing catches up with demand.
Mr Rattenbury says the new right doesn’t guarantee everyone a house but means the government will have to take it into account in its decision-making, and consider stronger protections for tenants, public and private.
ACTCOSS CEO Dr Devin Bowles acknowledges that actual physical homes are essential.
“To make the right to housing a reality, we must continue and scale up investment in public and community housing to ensure that no one in Canberra is left without the security of a home,” he said.
All the social sector groups are convinced that the legislation will make a difference for people struggling with housing and improve government approaches to the issue.
I sincerely hope it does, but we also have a human rights-based prison that has not lived up to expectations.
A regulatory approach to housing isn’t enough. A sufficient supply of adequate, affordable private housing with the back-up of public and community housing will minimise the need for people to exercise their rights.
However, if the legislation does shift our thinking and supports the provision of new housing, then all power to it.
