The National Housing and Homelessness Plan Bill 2024 requires the Housing Minister to develop, implement and periodically renew a national plan setting out objectives on housing adequacy, affordability, supply and homelessness prevention. It also establishes a National Housing Consumer Council and an independent National Housing and Homelessness Advocate to ensure consumer input and monitor progress.
Modeled on Canada’s National Housing Strategy Act, the Bill aims to improve governance, accountability and human rights compliance in Australia’s housing policy.
The Bill enacts the National Housing and Homelessness Plan Act 2024. Part 1 sets out objects and definitions, including recognition of adequate housing as a human right under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and support for Indigenous self-determination. Part 2 (clauses 7–13) obliges the Housing Minister to prepare and maintain a National Housing and Homelessness Plan in collaboration with experts, consumer bodies and state/territory governments. The Plan must address objectives such as preventing homelessness, improving affordability, supply, quality and economic outcomes, and must be refreshed every 10 years with triennial progress reports to Parliament.
Part 3 (clauses 14–30) establishes a National Housing Consumer Council of 9–16 members to advise on consumer perspectives. Part 4 (clauses 31–45) creates an independent National Housing and Homelessness Advocate and Office, tasked with monitoring Plan implementation, reviewing systemic issues, reporting annually and ensuring ministerial responses to recommendations. Part 5 addresses funding, delegations and regulations. The Act provides a durable framework for national coordination without prescribing specific programs.
The Bill enshrines in law a national framework for housing and homelessness, fulfilling Australia’s international obligation to progressively realise the right to adequate housing under the ICESCR. By mandating clear objectives, regular parliamentary reporting and independent oversight, it maximises social welfare and ensures that policy efforts target those in greatest need.
Creating a National Housing Consumer Council and an independent Advocate operationalises egalitarian values by giving voice to tenants, First Nations peoples and other disadvantaged groups, helping narrow intergenerational inequalities exacerbated by rising housing costs. Embedding transparency and participation in decision making is likely to produce more responsive and equitable housing policies. [Judgment]
Although the Bill sets up processes and bodies, it does not guarantee additional funding or binding targets for housing supply, affordability or homelessness reduction. Without clear resource commitments, the plan risks becoming a cycle of reports that fails to produce substantive improvements on the ground.
Moreover, expanding federal oversight and creating new advisory bodies may duplicate state and territory efforts, increasing administrative costs and regulatory complexity. This could crowd out more agile local initiatives and divert funds from proven, direct interventions that incentivise private sector supply and support low-income renters. [Judgment]
2024-06-25
Senate
Before Senate
POCOCK, Sen David
Unspecified
Housing Policy, Social Support / Welfare, Discrimination / Human Rights