Government gets going on National Housing Supply and Affordability Council plans

The government has explained that the interim measure is intended to operate “until the council is established permanently in legislation”.

Minister for Housing Julie Collins touted Ms Lloyd-Hurwitz as “widely recognised as one of the most accomplished leaders in Australia’s property sector in recent decades”.

Currently the CEO of Mirvac Group and a member of the steering committee for Property Champions of Change, Ms Lloyd-Hurwitz has previously been on the board of the Property Council of Australia and the Green Building Council of Australia, as well as held positions at Macquarie Bank.

Ms Collins said the appointment of Ms Lloyd-Hurwitz is “an important step in implementing the Albanese government’s ambitious housing agenda”.

“Ms Lloyd-Hurwitz’s experience in the sector will be invaluable as we continue working to ensure more Australians have a safe and affordable place to call home,” Ms Collins said.

She is set to be joined on the interim council by Housing Choices Australia managing director and former Community Housing Industry Association chair Michael Lennon, who will take on the role of deputy chair.

Other board members assuming roles with the interim council include:

• Professor Rachel ViforJ – economist and member of the steering committee for the Asia-Pacific Network for Housing Research
• Helen Waters Silvia – CEO of the Women’s and Girls’ Emergency Centre
• Dr Marcus Spiller – urban economist, planner, and former member of the National Housing Supply Council
• David O’Loughlin – Urban Renewal Authority director, former president of the Australian Local Government Association

The announcement comes just a day after the government released draft legislation for the establishment of the Housing Australia Future Fund, Housing Australia, and the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council.

The draft legislation is expected to be introduced into Parliament in early 2023, according to Minister for Housing Julie Collins.

Ms Collins said: “Having a safe and affordable place to call home is critical for Australians.”

As well as aimed at setting up the fund, the legislation will also enable the creation of Housing Australia and allow for the establishment of the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council to provide independent advice to the government.

“We want to ensure our investments are underpinned by expert advice,” Ms Collins said while unveiling the legislation — and repeated her comments on the unveiling of the interim council members.

“The council’s advice will be essential as we continue to deliver our ambitious housing agenda.”

Returns from the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund have been earmarked to deliver “the government’s commitment of 30,000 new social and affordable homes in the fund’s first five years, including 4,000 homes for women and children impacted by family and domestic violence or older women at risk of homelessness”.

The fund is also set to address a number of “acute” housing needs, such as the repair, maintenance and improvement of remote Indigenous community housing, crisis and transitional housing options for women and children impacted by family and domestic violence and those at risk of homelessness, and the building of housing and funding of specialist services for veterans who are experiencing homelessness or at-risk of homelessness.