Commonwealth Numbered Acts

HOUSING ASSISTANCE ACT 1996 No. 24 of 1996 - LONG TITLE

An Act to assist people to obtain access to housing that is
affordable and appropriate to their needs,
and for related purposes 

Preamble
This preamble sets out the matters taken into account by the Parliament in
enacting this Act.
Housing and shelter are basic human needs.
Most Australian residents are able to obtain housing of an appropriate
standard within their means.
However, people who are economically or socially disadvantaged may be less
likely to obtain affordable, secure and appropriate housing. They may also be
more likely to suffer discrimination in their efforts to obtain adequate
housing and may be at a greater risk of homelessness.
The inability to obtain adequate and ecologically appropriate housing can have
adverse effects on health and the quality of life and reduces the prospects of
obtaining employment and other opportunities that would ordinarily arise for
people during their lifetimes.
Australia has acted to protect the rights of all its citizens, including
people who have inadequate housing, by recognising international standards for
the protection of universal human rights and fundamental freedoms through:

   (a)  the ratification of the International Covenants on Economic, Social
        and Cultural Rights and on Civil and Political Rights; and

   (b)  the ratification of the Conventions on the Elimination of all forms of
        Racial Discrimination, on the Elimination of all Forms of
        Discrimination against Women and on the Rights of the Child; and

   (c)  the acceptance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and of the
        Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women; and

   (d)  the enactment of legislation such as the Human Rights and Equal 
        Opportunity Commission Act 1986 .
Accordingly the Parliament considers that the provision, by the Governments of
the Commonwealth, the States, the Australian Capital Territory and the
Northern Territory, of housing assistance to people requiring access to
affordable and appropriate housing is essential to reduce poverty and its
effects on individuals and on the community as a whole. The Parliament
therefore intends that:

   (e)  housing assistance should be directed towards people who are on low
        incomes or otherwise meet barriers in obtaining the housing they need;
        and

   (f)  housing assistance will be provided in ways that reflect their needs
        and aspirations and will ensure that their rights are properly
        protected and due regard is had to their responsibilities; and

   (g)  housing assistance will, as far as possible, offer a choice between
        different forms of assistance and between different providers of
        assistance and between different types of housing and between
        different areas in which housing is located and include the provision
        of targeted subsidies to home purchase aspirants; and

   (h)  housing assistance for which money is provided under this Act will
        have as its express objective the obtaining of benefits by the people
        who receive the assistance in ways that are effective and ensure that
        money provided is spent efficiently and is properly accounted for.
In giving effect to the above intentions, the Parliament recognises that it is
desirable for the Governments of the Commonwealth, the States, the Australian
Capital Territory and the Northern Territory to:

   (i)  work together in providing access to affordable appropriate housing
        and work in cooperation with local governing bodies, as appropriate,
        in view of the regulatory and other functions of those bodies with
        respect to the design, planning and management of cities and towns;
        and

   (j)  encourage private sector involvement in the provision of appropriate
        and affordable housing; and

   (k)  work in cooperation with non-government organisations that provide
        housing and related assistance, including environmentally oriented
        groups concerned with conservation, transport and urban form, and
        organisations that provide community and rental housing for Aboriginal
        and Torres Strait Islander people and organisations that have
        responsibility for the provision of services for people who are
        homeless or at risk of homelessness, in view of the contribution of
        non-government organisations to the provision of housing assistance.
The Parliament regards it as essential that, in giving effect to these
intentions, housing assistance funded under this Act will be planned and
delivered so as to take full account of the range of factors that contribute
to the quality of life of the people receiving the assistance.
These factors include the liveability of communities, and equality of
opportunity, non-discrimination, and respect for dignity and self-esteem, for
people receiving housing assistance.