Queensland Government
Department of Housing and Public Works

The Director-General of the Department of Housing was responsible for the following legislation at 30 June 2008:

Department of Housing

  • Housing Act 2003
  • Housing (Freeholding of Land) Act 1957
  • Inala Shopping Centre Freeholding Act 2006

Queensland Building Services Authority

  • Building and Construction Industry Payments Act 2004
  • Domestic Building Contracts Act 2000
  • Queensland Building Services Authority Act 1991
  • Subcontractors' Charges Act 1974

Residential Tenancies Authority

  • Residential Services (Accommodation) Act 2002
  • Residential Tenancies Act 1994

The Director-General is also given specific authority and responsibilities under the Integrated Planning Act 1997.

As the responsible officer, the Director-General is accountable for preparing and processing reports to Cabinet and Executive Council, subordinate legislation including regulations and forms, and other machinery-of-Government matters. This includes processes for disseminating information to, and reporting by, the department and the statutory authorities within the portfolio, namely the Residential Tenancies Authority and the Queensland Building Services Authority.

The Residential Tenancies Authority and the Queensland Building Services Authority prepare separate annual reports.

The main objectives of the department, as established by the Housing Act 2003, are to:

  • improve access to safe, secure, appropriate and affordable housing for Queenslanders, and
  • help contribute to building sustainable communities.

The general powers of the department are to:

  • enter into contracts,
  • acquire, hold, lease, sell and otherwise deal with land and other property,
  • carry out building and related works and make other improvements to land,
  • appoint agents and attorneys,
  • charge for goods and services supplied,
  • make loans and investments, and
  • waiver amounts owed.

Legislative changes that affected the department

Housing Regulation amendments

Housing Amendment Regulation (No.1) 2007 updated the schedule of fees and charges originally prescribed in the Housing Regulation 2003.

Housing Amendment Regulation (No.1) 2008 commenced on 15 March 2008, and ensured consequential amendments required as a result of amendments to the Local Government Act 1993 gave proper effect of the changeover of local government boundaries in March 2008. In addition, the amendment reflected the name change of the Boarding House Program to Community-managed Housing–Studio Units Program.

Housing Amendment Regulation (No.2) 2008 increased fees and charges in line with the Brisbane Consumer Price Index, and amended the common eligibility criteria to include the additions to property ownership and a new liquid assets test.

Housing Amendment Regulation (No.3) 2008 amended the common eligibility criteria to include “appropriateness” of the existing housing of an applicant for social housing assistance in line with the Client Intake and Assessment Process.