Greens Leader Shane Rattenbury MLA introduced a bill to the Assembly proposing to amend the Human Rights Act 2004 to make housing a human right in the ACT. This includes that everyone is entitled to enjoy this right without discrimination, and that no-one may be unlawfully or arbitrarily evicted from their home or have an essential utility service disconnected.
Attorney-General Tara Cheyne MLA moved amendments to the bill delaying the implementation of the legislation to 2027, and narrowing the scope of the right until 2029.
During debate on the bill, Thomas voiced his strong support for making the ACT the first jurisdiction in Australia to legislate housing as a human right. He spoke about the particular importance of this right in the context of the homelessness and housing insecurity experienced by many Canberrans, and the urgent need to significantly increase the proportion of social housing in the ACT.
The bill was passed unanimously with ACT Labor’s amendments.