Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Pratt for the question. The Albanese government's $2 billion investment in the Social Housing Accelerator program is a significant step forward towards addressing Australia's housing challenges. This investment will deliver thousands of new social rental homes across the country. With this investment we are working to reverse the decline of national housing stock that we've seen over the past decade—a decade of neglect and little action from those opposite when they were in government.

Now we've inherited this situation, with extensive waiting lists for public housing across state and territory governments and a massive shortfall of supply. But the government is working hard to meet these unfulfilled needs. Our investment will be of particular benefit for women, who are disproportionately affected by housing insecurity and are more likely to experience housing stress. Women are less likely to be able to save for a deposit, are less likely to own their own home and are the fastest-growing cohort at risk of homelessness. Homelessness is of course a particular risk for women who need to flee domestic violence situations.

Our investment in social housing will directly benefit women experiencing housing stress or at risk of homelessness by increasing the supply of affordable homes. The government's $2 billion Social Housing Accelerator program allows for a range of approaches to boost social housing stock right across the country. This means we can target the areas of greatest need, including areas where single mums, older women and women and children fleeing domestic violence live.

Furthermore, our investment in social housing is part of a broader housing agenda that includes measures specifically designed to support women. We're providing $67.5 million to states to help tackle homelessness, and $350 million through the Housing Accord to build 20,000 new affordable rentals in the next five years. We could do more if the Housing Australia Future Fund passed the Senate.