Resources > 2023
Australian Government 2023-24 Budget Consultation – R&IA Submission – January 2023 (PDF)
ACT Government 2023-24 Budget Consultation – Submission by ACT Housing Solutions Innovation – March 2023 (PDF) (Word)
27 April 2023 – New Canberra community centre named to recognise Sue Salthouse
The ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr, Luisa Fearnside and other attendees at the naming ceremony of the new Salthouse Community Centre. 27 April 2023. Image source: ACT Government
R&IA was delighted to be able to attend the formal naming ceremony of the new Salthouse Community Centre in Canberra, on Thursday 27 April. Named to honour recognise Sue Salthouse, a former director of R&IA, ‘The Salthouse’ is located in Braddon’s Haig Park – just to the north of Canberra’s CBD.
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr and Sue Salthouse’s daughter Luisa Fearnside both spoke at the ceremony, joined by a gathering of Sue’s family, friends and colleagues, ACT Government ministers and staff, and others.
From the Chief Minister’s media release: “The centre has been named the Salthouse Community Centre to recognise the late Sue Salthouse and her advocacy for people – particularly women – with a disability,” said Chief Minister Andrew Barr.
“Ms Salthouse was awarded the ACT’s 2020 Senior Australian of the Year for this work before sadly passing away in an accident later that year. This inclusive centre in Haig Park is befitting of Sue Salthouse’s important legacy. The accessible building reflects her tireless advocacy for people with a disability and ensures future generations will continue to be touched by her work.”
You can read the Chief Minister’s media release in full here. The ceremony was also covered on ABC Canberra 7pm News on 27 April.
The Centre will be open for community use from early May.
11 April 2023 – New ABCB Livable Housing Standard documents published, including Voluntary Standard
Two new Livable Housing Standard documents were published by the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) on 6 April. These are in addition to the ‘ABCB Standard for Livable Housing Design’ published last year. Their publication follows extensive discussions and negotiations. The documents can be accessed online here at https://abcb.gov.au/news/2023/new-abcb-support-materials-livable-housing-design-provisions-ncc-2022
The ‘ABCB Handbook for Livable Housing Design’ provides guidance on the NCC requirements for liveable housing design, including the ‘ABCB Standard for Livable Housing Design’; refer: https://abcb.gov.au/resource/handbook/abcb-handbook-livable-housing-design
The ‘ABCB Voluntary Standard for Livable Housing Design: Beyond Minimum’, is a set of non-mandatory technical provisions that if complied with will enable dwellings to better meet the needs of the community, including older people and people with mobility limitations; refer: https://abcb.gov.au/resource/standard/abcb-voluntary-standard-livable-housing-design-beyond-minimum. This Voluntary Standard has been adapted from the ‘Gold’ level provisions of the ‘Livable Housing Design Guidelines’ (LHDG), fourth edition, 2017, which were first published by Livable Housing Australia.
The ‘ABCB Standard for Livable Housing Design’ takes effect for the construction of new dwellings from 1 October 2023 on, with Tasmania implementing from 1 October 2024. Disappointingly, the NSW and Western Australia Labor Governments are not adopting the Standard at this time. R&IA continues to advocate for adoption of the ‘ABCB Standard for Livable Housing Design’ in NSW and WA, as part of the ongoing push for universal housing design.