All new housing should be accessible for everyone – that’s the message in the Summer Foundation’s recent submission to the Australian Building Codes Board.
“Accessible housing is for everyone, every time, every day,” our response to the Board’s Consultation Regulation Impact Statement said.
“It should not be regarded as ‘an optional extra’ for ‘for special people’. The regulation of minimum standards of accessibility can bring significant benefits to the broader community and is in the public interest.”
We recommended that Livable Housing Australia’s Gold design standard be adopted for all new housing.
“The current consultation provides a once in a generation opportunity to improve the design of new houses for all Australians and also future proof our housing infrastructure for our ageing population.”
You can read our joint submission with the Melbourne Disability Institute here.