People with Disability Australia (PWDA), the national
cross-disability rights and advocacy organisation, is urging
all parties and candidates to immediately address the
critical shortage of accessible housing after this week’s
leader’s and housing policy debates failed to even
acknowledge people with disability. None of the leaders,
including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition
Leader Peter Dutton, mentioned accessibility, despite people
with disability experiencing extreme levels of housing
insecurity and homelessness.
PWDA
President Trinity Ford said, “We are in a housing crisis
within a housing crisis. Overwhelmingly, people with
disability are among the most severely impacted homelessness
and housing insecurity. Disability has been completely
ignored on the election trail and has been invisible in key
debates and campaign launches, despite housing being a
cornerstone of both major parties’ election
bids.
“Modifying or retrofitting homes
is not an option for most people with disability. The
expense is out of reach and far higher than if we just built
it right in the first place. The failure to build accessible
housing has led to thousands of us staying in hospitals,
living in group homes, or staying in unsuitable situations
that impact our health and ability to participate in the
community.”
The
PWDA 2025 Election Platform calls for urgent action to
increase the supply of accessible housing by mandate the
Livable Housing Design Silver Standard nationwide and a
developed a targeted national housing action plan for people
with disability.
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“The failure of both Labor and
Coalition to address disability-specific housing needs is
deeply troubling. It’s clear that general housing
affordability and supply promises alone aren’t enough to
address decades of neglect in accessible infrastructure.
Housing is a human right and must be accessible for the
millions of Australians with disability. We need to see that
commitment in action now,” said PWDA Board Director Steph
Travers.
Janel Manns, a former Paralympian and NDIS
participant, has experienced firsthand the battle to secure
accessible housing. A wheelchair user with a degenerative
condition impacting her upper body, she is currently unable
to fully navigate her home.
“Living in Sydney I’m
forced to pay $1,000 a week in rent just to have basic
access to a shower and toilet. But I can’t access my
kitchen. My physical health continues to deteriorate because
my home isn’t fully accessible. To afford my rent I’ve
had to move in with family.
“This is my experience
but what worries me is knowing I’m not the only one –
thousands of disabled Australians don’t have a roof over
their head or are living in unsuitable and unsafe
conditions. This has got to change. We need more accessible
housing now,” said Ms Manns.
PWDA is demanding
immediate commitment from all political parties
to:
- Mandate national accessibility standards in
housing, in all States and Territories, through the National
Construction Code. - Prioritise people with disability
explicitly in housing and homelessness
policies. - Develop targeted actions under the
National Housing and Homelessness Plan to address
disability-specific housing needs. - Increase
investment in independent, accessible social
housing.
“It’s time for politicians to listen
and act. Accessible housing is not optional – it’s
essential. There are 5.5 million people with disability, our
votes will go to candidates and parties who commit clearly
and publicly to addressing our community’s urgent housing
needs,” said PWDA President Trinity
Ford.
