Housing Act 2003

This Act is to be administered in a way that has sufficient regard to the following principles—

the availability of safe, secure, appropriate and affordable housing in a community—

enhances the quality of life of people living in the community; and

contributes to the wellbeing of the community by enabling people to participate in its social and economic life;

the need for safe, secure, appropriate and affordable housing can be met by entities from government, industry and the community, acting separately and in partnership;

a community is sustainable if—

it is socially and economically diverse, cohesive, resilient and adaptable; and

it has access to appropriate services and amenities;

housing services should be provided in a way that responds to the diverse and changing needs of individuals, families and other households;

the State’s provision of housing services should—

provide leadership and promote best practice in housing provision and residential development; and

be integrated, as far as is reasonably practicable, with the provision of other government social services;

individuals being provided with housing under this Act should have access, as far as is reasonably practicable, to an appropriate choice of housing types and tenures;

housing services should be provided in a way that has appropriate regard to—

local and regional differences; and

cultural diversity; and

Aboriginal tradition and Island custom;Note—Aboriginal tradition means the body of traditions, observances, customs and beliefs of Aboriginal people generally or of a particular community or group of Aboriginal people, and includes any such traditions, observances, customs and beliefs relating to particular persons, areas, objects or relationships—see the Acts Interpretation Act 1954, schedule 1.Island custom, known in the Torres Strait as Ailan Kastom, means the body of customs, traditions, observances and beliefs of Torres Strait Islanders generally or of a particular community or group of Torres Strait Islanders, and includes any such customs, traditions, observances and beliefs relating to particular persons, areas, objects or relationships—see the Acts Interpretation Act 1954, schedule 1.

the needs, views and interests of consumers of housing services, indigenous community members and representatives, non-government entities, industry bodies and local governments should be taken into account in developing government housing policy.