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The Melbourne Disability Institute (MDI) has urged Queensland to continue implementing the Liveable Housing Design Standard, warning that calls to abandon the reform on productivity grounds ignore its broader social and economic benefits.
In a submission to the Queensland Productivity Commission, MDI rejects arguments from housing industry peak bodies that the Standard reduces construction sector productivity.
The Institute, supported by the Australian Network for Universal Housing Design and others, argues that while the Standard may involve modest upfront costs, it contributes significantly to long-term efficiency, improved social outcomes, and government priorities.
The submission highlights that accessible housing enables older people and those with mobility-related disability to remain in their homes longer, stay connected to family and community, and reduce reliance on health and aged care systems.
In economic terms, this supports not only productive efficiency but also allocative and dynamic efficiency, ensuring resources are better used across society and adapting to changing needs over time.
MDI notes that Queensland is currently leading the nation in implementing the Standard and warns that focusing too narrowly on immediate costs risks undermining social welfare and economic resilience. "The quest for increased productivity is important," the submission states, "but should not come at the expense of safety and inclusion for ordinary Queenslanders, old or young, renter or homeowner."
Accessible housing is also framed as critical infrastructure that “future-proofs” the state’s housing stock. The Institute argues that this reform aligns with broader goals of equity, efficiency, and inclusion, and should be preserved despite industry pushback.
MDI’s submission is grounded in a long history of research and advocacy, including work that helped influence the 2022 national adoption of minimum accessibility standards. It maintains that homes designed for all abilities are not a cost burden, but a wise investment in Queensland’s future.
Beyond Productivity: Long-Term Vision for Inclusive Housing
MDI stresses that good public policy must go beyond the short-term calculus of immediate construction costs. Accessible homes improve quality of life not only for people with disability and older Australians, but for anyone experiencing temporary mobility challenges—whether due to illness, injury, or the demands of caring for others.
The Institute also warns of the social consequences of failing to act. Without accessible standards, many Queenslanders risk being forced into institutional care or facing long-term housing insecurity. That outcome is not only morally unacceptable but economically inefficient, as it places greater demand on publicly funded support systems.
Queensland’s early adoption of the Liveable Housing Design Standard positions the state as a national leader in inclusive planning. MDI argues that backing away from implementation now would squander this leadership and compromise the long-term adaptability of the state’s housing system.
At its core, the Standard is about giving people safe, functional homes for life. That’s not just good social policy—it’s smart economics.
This article was first published by Ability News on June 5th 2025. Republished with permission. Read the original article here.