DDA (Disability Discrimination Act)
The DDA (Disability Discrimination Act 1992) is the federal law that makes it unlawful to discriminate on grounds of disability. Premises Standards flow from it.
Ask Chalkline about this →The DDA is the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth), the federal law that makes it unlawful to discriminate against a person on the grounds of disability in areas including access to public buildings and premises.
For builders and building designers, the DDA is relevant because it underpins the Disability (Access to Premises-Buildings) Standards 2010 (Premises Standards), a legislative instrument that specifies the access features public buildings must provide. The Premises Standards reference AS 1428.1 for technical compliance. A building certifier approving work that fails to meet the Premises Standards may expose the building owner to DDA liability. The DDA applies to new building work and to buildings undergoing substantial renovation.
The DDA does not apply to standard private residences (Class 1a houses used exclusively by their owners). For residential buildings used as public accommodation such as boarding houses or short-stay accommodation, the relevant building classification shifts to Class 1b or Class 3, and the DDA-backed Premises Standards come into scope.
Also known as: Disability Discrimination Act, DDA 1992
Category: Federal legislation, access and disability
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Last updated: 2026-05-08. Verified: 2026-05-08. Quarterly review for currency.