Social housing money could go to Commonwealth Games athlete villages

The federal government has not ruled out allowing almost $500m for social housing in Victoria to be spent building Commonwealth Games athlete villages.

The federal government hasn’t ruled out letting social housing money being spent on the Commonwealth Games athlete village.

The federal government has not ruled out allowing almost $500m for social housing in Victoria to be spent building Commonwealth Games athlete villages that could later be transformed into desperately-needed housing stock.

Concerns continue to grow about the planning and infrastructure required for the March 2026 event with under 1000 days to go.

Labor last week announced a $2bn Social Housing Accelerator program in Victoria, which will deliver $496m to the state in the next week to begin boosting social housing stock.

Asked if the funding could be used to fund Commonwealth Games housing, a federal government spokeswoman said the agreement had not been finalised.

States and territories were told they would have “flexibility” in how they permanently boost social housing stock, with all funding to be committed by June 30, 2025.

This includes through new builds, expanding existing programs, renovating or refurbishing existing uninhabitable housing stock.

An artist’s impression of an athletes village for the Commonwealth Games in Victoria.

The federal government is yet to strike a deal on Commonwealth Games funding with the Victorian government, which had requested $1.3bn for athlete accommodation and a gymnastics and weightlifting centre.

However, it last month confirmed it was exploring opportunities on the development of villages “where it aligns with our goal to build more social and affordable housing”.

Ballarat Mayor Des Hudson called on the federal and state governments to “quarantine” the newly announced cash for social housing.

Mr Hudson said a separate deal to build athlete villages that can be used for social and affordable housing should be reached.

He said Ballarat had a shortage of student accommodation, rentals and one and two bedroom properties.

“We are now under 1000 days and there is still significant infrastructure that needs to be built,” he said.

“We want to get as much out of the (Commonwealth Games) experience as we can.”

Opposition housing spokesman Michael Sukkar said he doubted the housing accelerator funding would ever be used for housing, as the Andrews government raises taxes in a bid to tackle its debt.

City of Ballarat Mayor Des Hudson called on the federal and state governments to ‘quarantine’ the newly announced cash for social housing.

“Labor has not been able to identify which new projects will be funded or when they’ll be delivered,” Mr Sukkar said.

“It seems clear that Anthony Albanese is handing Daniel Andrews a blank cheque and hoping for the best.”

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers met with his state and territory counterparts on Friday to discuss the housing woes.

“Housing supply and affordability is one of the biggest issues facing our economy and our community,” he said.

“We give ourselves the best chance of addressing this challenge if we work together, and that’s one of the things we’ll focus on today at the meeting of treasurers.”

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