MEDIA RELEASE 

THE HON SHAYNE NEUMANN MP, FEDERAL MEMBER FOR BLAIR

Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann has welcomed the passage of the Albanese Labor Government’s Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) in the Federal Parliament this week, saying it was good news for residents in his electorate. 

The passage of the legislation, along with the commitments made at last month’s National Cabinet, represents one of the most significant reforms to housing in a generation.

Mr Neumann said delivering the HAFF will ensure more locals in Blair will have a safe and affordable place to call home, and will help generations of Australians into the future.

“The $10 billion HAFF will create a secure, ongoing pipeline of funding for more social and affordable rental housing, including in my electorate, fulfilling the commitment the Government made to the Australian people,” he said.   

“In addition, this week the Government announced an additional $1 billion will be invested in the National Housing Infrastructure Facility to support new homes.

“The Government thanks the crossbench in the House of Representatives and Senate, including the Greens Party, for the constructive engagement over a number of months on this critical legislation.”  

Returns from the HAFF will help deliver the Government’s commitment of 30,000 new social and affordable rental homes in the fund’s first five years.     

This includes 4,000 homes for women and children impacted by family and domestic violence or older women at risk of homelessness.    

Fund returns will also deliver the Government’s commitments to help address acute housing needs, including:  

• $200 million for the repair, maintenance and improvement of housing in remote Indigenous communities;
• $100 million for crisis and transitional housing options for women and children impacted by family and domestic violence and older women at risk of homelessness; and
• $30 million to build housing for veterans who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.

This will mean more homes for key workers, more affordable homes for Australian renters, and more homes for those most in need. 

The HAFF is backed by numerous stakeholders, including housing experts, community housing providers, and every state and territory Housing Minister.

The package of housing legislation passed by the Parliament this week also includes the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council Bill 2023, which will establish the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council as an independent statutory advisory body.

The Treasury Laws Amendment (Housing Measures No. 1) Bill 2023 changes the name of the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation to Housing Australia and streamlines its functions.   

The HAFF is just one part of the Albanese Government’s ambitious housing reform agenda, which also includes:  

• A new national target to build 1.2 million well-located homes
• A $3 billion New Homes Bonus, and $500 million Housing Support Program
• A $2 billion Social Housing Accelerator to deliver thousands of new social homes across Australia
• A National Housing Accord which includes federal funding to deliver 10,000 affordable homes over five years from 2024 (to be matched by up to another 10,000 by the states and territories)  
• An investment of an additional $1 billion in the National Housing Infrastructure Facility to support more homes
• Up to $575 million in funding already unlocked from the National Housing Infrastructure Facility, with homes under construction across the country
• Increasing the maximum rate of Commonwealth Rent Assistance by 15 per cent, the largest increase in more than 30 years      
• An additional $2 billion in financing for more social and affordable rental housing through the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation      
• New incentives to boost the supply of rental housing by changing arrangements for investments in Build-to-Rent accommodation      
• A $1.7 billion one-year extension of the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement with states and territories, including a $67.5 million boost to homelessness funding over the next year
• The development of a new National Housing and Homelessness Plan
• States and territories committing to A Better Deal for Renters
• States and territories supporting the national roll out of the Help to Buy program, which will reduce the cost of buying a home
• Helping more than 67,000 people into home ownership through the Home Guarantee Scheme since being elected, and recently expanding program eligibility.

Mr Neumann said the passage of the HAFF legislation would help prospective homebuyers and renters in Ipswich, the Somerset Region and Karana Downs area.

“This means the Albanese Government will deliver the single biggest investment in social and affordable housing in more than a decade.

“I know many local residents are facing housing and rental affordability challenges, which is why the Government is taking action, so more residents in Blair have a safe place to call home,” Mr Neumann said.