This afternoon, the ACT Legislative Assembly is set to pass legislation which will enshrine housing as a human right following the introduction of the legislation by the Greens in November of last year, their first parliamentary action of the term.
“The passage of this legislation is a landmark moment for social justice in Australia, with Canberra yet again leading the nation by enshrining the right to a safe home as the foundation for a fair and decent life,” said author of the Bill and Leader of the ACT Greens, Shane Rattenbury.
“This legislation introduced by the Greens will start the process of reshaping the way we think about housing is this city. It will create a new requirement, by law, for the government to treat housing not as a private asset for wealth creation, but as a foundational social good—just as we already treat education and healthcare.
“This will mean the government has a legal responsibility, as part of building a just society, to facilitate the fair provision of housing in either the private or public market.
“And if anyone in this city believes the government is not living up to this responsibility, they now have a legal mechanism to challenge decision making or change unfair laws so that the government works for the interests of the people, not the housing market.
“For too long, governments have been walking away from their responsibility to ensure and affordable and decent home for all. But today marks the beginning of an acknowledgement: housing is not a commodity; it is a human right.
“From now on, when new laws are introduced in the Assembly, the government will have to consider Canberrans’ fundamental right to housing. That means weighing how policies impact home security, affordability, access to essential services like water and electricity, and whether homes are well-located and accessible to shops and services.
“Across the country, Labor and Liberal governments have backed a cooked housing system that has eroded trust in democracy and public institutions. There was once no such thing as a ‘housing crisis.’ But years of privatisation, deregulation and distorting tax incentives have made it clear we need change.
“Here in Canberra, rents are at record highs, public housing is at record lows, and waiting lists grow longer every year. With mortgages and interest rates also soaring, the housing system is breaking—and when it breaks, it’s our political system that will fracture first, not the market.
“Enshrining the right to housing is a crucial step in trying to turn the tide and restoring trust in government as an institution that has a responsibility to make real people’s lives better.
Angela Cartwright, CEO of Better Renting:
“Recognising housing as a human right under ACT law has the potential to deliver tangible, positive outcomes for renters. Despite important steps towards improving renting in the ACT, too many renters continue to live in unhealthy, energy inefficient homes while facing housing stress and instability.
“Inadequate rental protections particularly harm renters on low incomes, renters with disabilities, older renters, and people living in marginal or precarious tenancies, entrenching inequities and demonstrating the need for a major shift in how we view housing.
Craig Wallace, Head of Policy at Advocacy for Inclusion:
“We support the Human Rights (Housing) Amendment Bill 2025. People with disability face a two-pronged housing crisis in Canberra due to a lack of appropriate built form at a price point which is available to people who are often on lower incomes due to exclusion from the labour market, costs of disability and inadequate rates of income support.
“Enshrining the right to adequate housing will provide accountability mechanisms to protect our community members and provide a prompt for action. Too many people with disability are trapped in hospitals, group homes, nursing homes or unsafe circumstances due to a lack of accessible and affordable housing. Article 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disability recognises the equal right of all persons with disabilities to live in the community, with choices equal to others.
“This Bill will require government to consider housing as a human right, hopefully driving concrete action toward better housing outcomes for people with disability who too often face discrimination and inadequate support in housing”
Kym Duggan, Chair of the Social Justice Committee, St Vincent de Paul Society Canberra/Goulburn:
“The St Vincent de Paul Society Canberra/Goulburn believes enshrining the right to housing in the ACT’s Human Rights Act will strengthen protections for vulnerable people, improve government accountability, and lay a foundation for fairer, more inclusive housing policies and outcomes in our community. We encourage the ACT Government and all parties to demonstrate leadership and to support this amendment.
Rebecca Zappelli, Executive Director of Families ACT:
“Families ACT strongly supports the inclusion of the right to adequate housing. In 2021-22, 1889 families in the ACT were without a home, the second highest cohort being families with one parent and children.
“All children and families in the ACT should have access to safe and stable housing as a basic human right, creating the foundation for better developmental, economic, social and emotional outcomes for children and families to reach their full potential.
Ravi Krishnamurthy, President of the Australian Multicultural Action Network
“Housing is not just a policy issue – it is a fundamental human right. By enshrining the right to adequate housing, the ACT can ensure dignity, security, and inclusion for all, particularly for those most vulnerable in our community.
