Jason Clare (Blaxland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Regional Services, Territories and Local Government) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. The OECD has specifically called for extra government investment in social housing to protect the economy from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Why is the government ignoring the OECD's advice on social housing?

Josh Frydenberg (Kooyong, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government contributes around $6 billion a year to housing assistance. When it comes to social housing and other support, we know that under the former Treasurer, now Prime Minister, we established the NHFIC program to help grow the community-housing sector. We established the $1 billion National Housing Infrastructure Facility. Of that, $30 million was in the Hobart City Deal to build more than 100 social and affordable homes; $78 million was for domestic violence housing services; $60 million was for building emergency accommodation; and $18 million was for the Keeping Women Safe in Their Homes program. Governments at all levels have responsibility when it comes to social housing. This is primarily a state responsibility but the Commonwealth continues to invest significantly in social and community housing, particularly through the $1 billion NHFIC program.