Fire and emergency services minister Craig Crawford says close to 3400 buildings suspected of operating as illegal budget accommodation have been inspected by the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service over the past 11 years
These inspections have resulted in 1626 requisitions being issued across the state to limit to number of residents to five or fewer residents, in accordance with legislation introduced after the Childers Palace Backpacker hostel fire resulted in 15 deaths in 2000.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Service Commissioner Katarina Carroll said while most budget accommodation providers are in compliance with safety standards, a minority of operators continue to ignore warnings.