Three times as many households were kicked out of public housing in the first year of Queensland’s new behaviour policy.
Under the change, tenants who receive three warnings for serious behaviour, including aggressive language, harassment and deliberate damage, in a year are evicted.
Tenants are immediately evicted and banned from social housing for two years for severe or illegal activities, including assault, drug manufacturing or dangerous behaviour.
Between July 1, 2025 and June 30 this year, 122 households were evicted, including 56 for dangerous or severe behaviour.
Of those evicted, 84 people have been banned from social housing for up to two years.
In the first year, another 91 households left after being issued with an eviction notice, but before the matter proceeded to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT).
It is a sharp rise from the previous year, when 39 households were evicted under the fair expectations and antisocial behaviour policy introduced by Labor.
A comparison of the number of notices to leave issued could not be provided by the Department of Housing and Public Works as it was not previously recorded.
Housing Minister Sam O’Connor said the difference showed the new approach was working and had empowered housing officers to take action.
“Our message is simple: if you respect your neighbours and meet your responsibilities as a tenant, we’ll go above and beyond to help you sustain your tenancy,” he said.
“But, if you repeatedly engage in serious antisocial behaviour, there will be consequences.“
Sam O’Connor says the new policy makes it clear serious or repeated antisocial behaviour will have consequences. (ABC Gold Coast/Dominic Cansdale)
Mr O’Connor said while the “overwhelming majority” did the right thing, a small minority had been allowed to “make life a nightmare for their neighbours”.
In the first year, 1,016 breach notices, relating to 911 tenancies, were issued for disruptive behaviour.
Tenants who receive written warnings must commit to improving their conduct or face formal action to end their tenancy.
When announcing the policy last year, Mr O’Connor said housing officers could apply discretion to tenants with complex needs, including disability, mental illness, and those experiencing domestic violence.
The LNP’s policy has been compared to the three-strikes policy for pubic housing introduced by Campbell Newman’s government in 2013 and reversed by Labor.
‘Little opportunity’ after eviction
Tenants Queensland chief executive Penny Carr said the rise of evictions was “concerning”, but “not surprising”.
“We have definitely seen an uptick in people asking for support, but that is a lot of households that are going to face a very uncertain future,” she said.
Penny Carr says some tenants are likely facing eviction for behaviour that led to them being housed in the first place. (ABC Radio Brisbane: Kenji Sato)
Ms Carr said the advocacy service had successfully helped tenants defend allegations of antisocial behaviour.
“There is so little opportunity for them if they get evicted from social housing,” she said.
“For some of them, they are probably being evicted for behaviours that led to them being housed in the first place.
“They end up in this revolving door, their health declines, and their ability to remain in education or get employment also declines.”
Ms Carr said there needed to be more housing options available to people on low incomes and early support for people when concerning behaviour is identified to help them address the issue.
