McCullough Robertson’s Real Estate and Employment Relations and Safety teams have recently partnered with the Community Housing Industry Association Queensland (CHIA) to contribute to the statutory review of the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2009 and the Tribunal’s operations.
Our focus is improving how tenancy and community living disputes are resolved, particularly the challenges highlighted in Issue Paper 8.
Working closely with CHIA and its members, we tested real-world issues against the current framework to ensure our recommendations reflect the day-to-day realities faced by community housing providers. Through a targeted consultation session, we gathered insights from organisations supporting some of Queensland’s most vulnerable communities.
Community housing providers are on the frontline, supporting individuals and families on low incomes, as well as people from diverse backgrounds, including refugees, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and people living with disability. For these providers, effective dispute resolution isn’t just a legal process, it’s essential to maintaining stable housing and delivering critical support services.
Our submission put forward practical recommendations to strengthen how tenancy disputes are managed, with a focus on outcomes that are more efficient, fair and accessible.
While developed for CHIA, the implications are sector-wide. A Tribunal better equipped to manage community housing disputes means:
- faster, more consistent decisions;
- reduced delays and administrative burden; and
- greater confidence in the system for all participants.
Ultimately, stronger processes benefit not only providers, but also tenants and the broader community.
This work reflects our ongoing commitment to the social and community housing sector, and to advancing access to justice, diversity and inclusion through meaningful law reform.
McCullough Robertson can support organisations with:
- reviewing tenancy and dispute resolution frameworks;
- identifying risks under the current Tribunal process; and
- preparing for potential changes arising from the review.
If you would like to understand how these reforms may impact your organisation or need support with tenancy and dispute resolution frameworks, please connect with one of our Community Housing team members.