Independent MLA Thomas Emerson has accused the ACT government of failing public housing tenants with disability after an inquiry found Housing ACT missed opportunities to access up to $36 million in Commonwealth funding.

The Legislative Assembly’s public accounts and administration committee found Housing ACT had failed to claim any Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) funding through the National Disability Insurance Scheme, despite having eligible tenants and registered properties.

The committee estimated forgone funding opportunities at between $10 million and $36 million over 10 years, although it said the precise amount could not be determined.

Emerson says the government has repeatedly failed to deliver on existing commitments, including its 2018 housing strategy pledge to facilitate specialist disability accommodation.

“Many of the Committee’s recommendations basically tell the ACT Government to follow through on its existing unmet commitments,” he says.

The inquiry found Housing ACT had registered as an SDA provider but never established the systems, governance arrangements or participant agreements needed to claim funding. Its registration subsequently lapsed.

It also found failures in maintenance, repairs and disability modifications had affected tenants’ safety, dignity and independence. Housing ACT did not routinely collect information about tenants’ NDIS participation, SDA funding or accessibility needs.

Among its 14 recommendations, the committee called for an audit of disability housing needs, enforceable maintenance standards and an independent review of disability-related repairs.

It also recommended Housing ACT apologise to tenants of 112 former SDA properties and publicly explain why those properties never delivered specialist disability accommodation.

Emerson says the government announced a four-month engagement process in April 2024 after questioning by independent Senator David Pocock exposed the funding problem, but then-housing minister Yvette Berry admitted in November 2025 that the work had never occurred.

He says the government must honour its commitments rather than make further promises.

“What I hear from Canberrans more than anything else isn’t that they want new promises from their government – they just want them to do what they’ve already said they’ll do.”

Emerson and Greens MLA Rebecca Vassarotti recently secured an Assembly motion requiring the government to release public housing documents, including ministerial briefs on specialist disability accommodation, by December 21.

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