NSW’s rejection of basic accessible home standards ‘salt in the wound’ for disabled people

NSW and WA will not adopt construction code clauses that would require new homes to have basic accessibility features such as at least one step-free entrance, a toilet on the entry level and reinforced walls in the bathroom. Photograph: Chris Hopkins/The Guardian

The New South Wales government’s refusal to enforce basic accessibility standards for new homes is “salt in the wound” for people with disabilities and will force more than 1 million Australians to continue living in ill-suited dwellings, advocates say.

Australia’s building ministers finalised the new national construction code (NCC) last week, which included much-lauded changes to energy efficiency standards as well as mandatory “silver” level accessibility standards, as described by Liveable Housing Australia.