Briefs

Housing support for women and children facing domestic and family violence (DFV) has been an important policy focus in recent years, and the restrictions put in place as a result of COVID-19 may impact that support. Additionally, with people around the world being forced to stay home in order to reduce transmission of the coronavirus, medical professionals and policing organisations are warning of an increase in cases of DFV.

Although the Commonwealth Government, through the National Cabinet, has announced a moratorium on rental evictions due to the coronavirus for six months,  residential tenancy laws are the responsibility of the states and territories, and as such vary across the country.

For people with a safe and secure home to self-isolate in, reducing the impact from the coronavirus is stressful enough, but for Australian residents and visitors, such as stranded backpackers,  who are experiencing homelessness, the situation is very acute. In particular, people who are sleeping rough, that is living a place not designed for habitation such as a park, derelict building or car, are vulnerable to respiratory infections during normal times.

The key response across the world to the COVID-19 pandemic is for people to ‘stay at home’ with social distancing the most important factor in reducing the spread of the infection. When people can isolate themselves at home, they reduce their chance of coming into contact with anybody who may have the virus (as it appears probable people may be infected but not yet show symptoms), however the health and social benefits of safe, secure and affordable housing are not available to all Australians.

The recent extended bushfire season across Australia has affected people living in rural and remote areas in many different ways: from having to evacuate from their home, to missing work when fire closes down local businesses, to the disaster of having their home and possessions destroyed by fire, to the health risks of living with bushfire smoke for long periods of time.