The Australian Human Rights Commission has called for more involvement of homeless people in developing policies and laws.

 In a submission to the House of Representatives Standing Committee inquiry into homelessness legislation President of the Australian Human Rights Commission Cathy Branson QC said improvements should be made to the way government agencies and service providers engage with people who are homeless and there should be increased protections against evictions. 

Branson said homelessness legislation should promote human rights as a key objective. She said it should also contain clear targets and ways of measuring whether Australia is achieving these targets, and should ensure that people who are homeless are actively involved in decisions affecting them.

She said residential tenancy laws and public space laws need to be re-assessed in terms of their negative impact on people who are homeless.

“It is an Australian Government responsibility to ensure that all Australians have access to affordable housing, with adequate space and access to essential services,” Branson said. “We can do better for people who are homeless in Australia.