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Melbourne Disability Institute (MDI) is urging 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.

Exactly a week ago, abilityNEWS was at the Governor General’s house in Yarralumla, as she launched a guide on Living Well with MS.

From the outside it might initially appear that not much has changed since Sam Mostyn has replaced General David Hurley as the Monarch’s representative.

Sure, there are new books in the study (Official Histories of Australia’s Wars are out, replaced by meditation guides), herbal tea is served instead of coffee, and yoga mats have taken over from sing-alongs in the reception room. But such small changes matter - they’re symptomatic of a new way of viewing the world.

Slowly - perhaps almost imperceptibly - disability is being mainstreamed.

It’s almost two decades now since Bill Shorten began working on the NDIS. Today this has become one of the biggest-spending government programs of them all, almost rivalling defence.

It’s important to recognise what has been achieved, even if in some ways there is still much further to go.

Nic Stuart, [email protected]

Quiz: Can you access the NDIS with a temporary condition?

(a) yes, thanks very much (b) no, unfortunately not

Answer: no