Thousands of new social homes fast tracked in federal deal with states

Thousands of new social homes are getting fast tracked under a deal struck with the states and territories.

Thousands of new social homes are set to be built after the Albanese government struck a deal with the states and territories fast tracking a second round of the Housing Australia Fund (HAFF).

The deal is tipped to open up some $3bn in fresh funds to build up to 5000 social homes across the country, adding to the 13,700 homes locked in under the first round of the HAFF.

Housing Minister Clare O’Neil, who will formally announce the move on Monday, said the government was working to “bring tens of thousands of homes online as quickly as possible”.

Housing Minister Clare O’Neil said the government was working to “bring tens of thousands of homes online as quickly as possible”. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“This a great new partnership with states and territories that is going to fast-track 5000 new social homes, because the way out of this housing crisis is to build, build, build,” Ms O’Neil said.

“While we’re working with states, territories and industry to bring tens of thousands of homes online as quickly as possible, Peter Dutton is promising to scrap Labor’s housing fund and the 30,000 homes that come with it.

“This partnership is about building thousands of homes quickly, and it’s one part of Labor’s ambitious plan to build more houses right across Australia, making housing more abundant and affordable.”

Thousands of new social homes are getting fast tracked under a deal struck with the states and territories. Picture: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

To qualify for the rapid round two of the HAFF, states and territories must prove they are building new social housing sites, with funding offered on a use or lose it basis.

With housing a key issue on voters’ minds, the Albanese government has pledged to build 1.2 million homes by 2030.

Meanwhile, the Coalition has promised that if it wins next year’s federal election, it would pump $5bn into speeding up critical housing infrastructure development, saying it would unlock 500,000 homes on greenfield developments.

Its housing election pitch also includes migration cuts and a temporary ban of foreign property investors.