Senate Economics References Committee — hearing of 9 November 2026: transcript & video · Polyfact

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Senate Economics References Committee

8 November 2026

Contents updated at 05:35

Public hearing of the Senate Economics References Committee as part of its inquiry into social housing in Australia.

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Inquiry into social housing — Senate Economics References Committee hearing

15:31

Opening statements

15:31

Kerrynne Liddle — opening of the hearing and acknowledgement of country

15:31

Intervenant 2 — explanation of hearing format and attendance

15:52

Kerrynne Liddle — procedural and privilege statement, welcome to first witness

16:12

Tom Alves — introduction for the record

17:32

Kerrynne Liddle — invitation for opening statement

17:39

Tom Alves — opening statement on the role and scale of social housing

17:51

Tom Alves — conclusion of opening statement on the role and reach of social housing

20:40

Investment, capacity and targets for social and community housing

21:48

Question from Lisa Darmanin on building capacity of community housing providers

21:48

Question from Lisa Darmanin on impacts for the construction sector

25:39

Question from Lisa Darmanin on the HAFF and sector steadiness

28:45

Question from Lisa Darmanin on scaling modern construction methods

29:42

Question from Barbara Pocock on a national social housing target and how to reach 10%

31:07

Question from Barbara Pocock on international models of sustainable social housing investment

37:03

Question from Barbara Pocock on limits of HAFF-style funding versus direct public construction

38:05

Question from Barbara Pocock on differences between public and community housing roles

40:31

Question from Barbara Pocock on federal budget measures for social and public housing as infrastructure

44:10

Question from Barbara Pocock on adequacy of Commonwealth housing policy architecture

46:54

Older renters, retirement security and home ownership

48:23

Question from Kerrynne Liddle on trends in older renters and home ownership in retirement

48:23

Investment, capacity and targets for social and community housing (cont.)

51:44

Question from Kerrynne Liddle on budget tax changes, trusts and housing affordability

51:44

Question from Kerrynne Liddle on Commonwealth Rent Assistance growth and implications

54:17

Question from Kerrynne Liddle on interest rate rises, supply and social housing demand

57:24

Question from Kerrynne Liddle on progress toward Labor’s 40,000 social housing target and HAFF delivery

59:55

Question from Barbara Pocock on HAFF allocation by community housing capacity versus geographic need

01:01:43

Question from Barbara Pocock on consistent definitions of affordable housing

01:07:55

Question from Richard Colbeck on modern construction methods and cost impacts

01:11:20

Question from Richard Colbeck on Commonwealth–state housing agreements and achieving social housing targets

01:15:44

Urban Development Institute of Australia — Evidence

01:19:39

Introduction of Urban Development Institute of Australia witnesses

01:19:39

Opening statements

01:21:13

Intervention of UDIA National representative on strategic funding and targets for social and affordable housing

01:21:13

National housing strategy, funding and regulatory and planning reform

01:24:58

Question from Lisa Darmanin on shifts in Commonwealth, state and territory housing roles

01:24:58

Question from Lisa Darmanin on regulatory red tape and construction bottlenecks

01:26:21

Question from Lisa Darmanin on further state actions and land to unlock more housing

01:29:03

Question from Lisa Darmanin on a standout planning or regulatory reform example

01:33:35

Question from Barbara Pocock on the relationship between social, affordable and at‑market housing

01:35:18

Question from Barbara Pocock on government roles and barriers in the at‑market sector

01:41:57

Question from Barbara Pocock on developer profit rates in at‑market and affordable housing

01:46:10

Question from Barbara Pocock on lessons from HAFF projects and future program design

01:48:06

Question from Richard Colbeck on reducing construction and housing delivery costs

01:51:12

Community Housing Industry Association Victoria — Evidence

02:18:54

Opening statements

02:18:54

Sarah Toohey — Opening statement

02:18:54

Social housing targets, funding agreements and delivery challenges

02:25:26

Question from Richard Colbeck on social housing share targets and the role of Commonwealth–state agreements

02:25:26

Question from Richard Colbeck on meeting the 40,000‑home HAFF target amid construction and inflation pressures

02:29:09

Question from Barbara Pocock on Victoria's social housing position, hidden costs and roles of public and community housing

02:32:41

Question from Barbara Pocock on HAFF affordability payments, cliff risks and defining affordability

02:38:22

Question from Lisa Darmanin on a permanent housing program, HAFF pipeline and program settings

02:40:17

Family Access Network, Council of Single Mothers and their Children and Anglicare Victoria — Evidence

02:47:01

Opening statements

02:47:01

Jenny Davidson — Opening statement

02:47:01

Paul McDonald — Opening statement

02:52:39

Michelle Thompson — Opening statement

02:59:00

Faith-based organisations and social housing delivery

03:02:28

Question from Lisa Darmanin on faith-based organisations' role in housing and pathways for care leavers

03:02:28

Housing market changes and impacts on single parents and young people

03:09:49

Question from Barbara Pocock on what has changed in the housing crisis over the last decade

03:09:49

Question from Barbara Pocock on preferred funding mechanisms and federal housing leadership

03:20:10

Question from Barbara Pocock on robustness of social impact bonds for large‑scale housing solutions

03:22:56

Question from Kerrynne Liddle on housing form, dwelling mix and location for young people and families

03:25:48

Question from Kerrynne Liddle on coordinating Commonwealth and state funding for support services

03:32:15

Afternoon session — Inquiry into social housing

04:30:45

Monash University — Evidence

04:30:45

Opening statements

04:30:45

Panel introduction and witness identifications

04:30:45

Kevin Bell — Opening statement on the human right to housing

04:33:08

Jacqui Alexander — Opening statement on institutional land and affordable housing

04:36:36

Leanne Khor — Opening statement on neighbourhood-scale planning and modern construction

04:37:49

Paul Thambar — Opening statement on cooperative housing models

04:39:09

Human right to housing and social housing targets

04:41:48

Question from Barbara Pocock on making housing a human right, social housing targets and short‑term budget priorities

04:41:48

Question from Lisa Darmanin on assessing unmet housing need versus numerical targets

04:50:35

Question from Lisa Darmanin on an enduring national housing framework and roles of governments

04:55:07

Question from Kerrynne Liddle on planning red tape and regulatory barriers to housing investment

04:58:16

Question from Kerrynne Liddle on vulnerable cohorts and ensuring quality, timely housing delivery

05:01:10

Conclusion of Monash University evidence

05:04:46

Housing at RMIT network — Evidence

05:07:34

Opening statements

05:07:34

Chair — Opening of Housing at RMIT network session and witness introduction

05:07:34

Julie Margaret Lawson — Opening statement on a national social and cost-rental system

05:08:28

International models and institutional settings for social housing

05:14:29

Question from Lisa Darmanin on where Australia sits compared with international housing models

05:14:29

Question from Barbara Pocock on engagement with Treasury and Housing Australia and alternative funding mechanisms

05:24:39

Question from Barbara Pocock on HAFF financing analysis, lifetime costs and procurement complexity

05:30:42

Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare — Evidence

05:35:18

Opening statements

05:35:18

Chair — Opening of Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare session and witness introductions

05:35:18

Emma Nugent — Opening statement on housing as essential infrastructure for children and families

05:37:11

Social housing targets, funding continuity and outcomes for children and care leavers

05:40:29

Questions from Lisa Darmanin on qualitative housing targets and measuring outcomes for families

05:40:29

Questions from Barbara Pocock on multi-year funding certainty, scale of backlog and size of intervention

05:44:54

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Senate Economics References Committee

8 November 2026

Senate Economics References Committee Sun, 8 Nov 2026 Parliament of Australia

Follow its sittings

15:31 - 15:52

Speaker 1

We'll get going, thank you. Good morning, everyone. I declare open this hearing of the Senate Economics References Committee for the inquiry into social housing. I begin by acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land on which we meet and pay my respects to elders past and present. I extend that respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples here today.

15:52 - 16:12

Speaker 2

The committee will be conducting today's hearing via teleconference and in person. Currently, we've got Senator Lisa Darmanin, Senators Barbara Pocock, myself, we've got I think Senator Colbeck is joining us a little later, and Senator Andrew Bragg.

16:12 - 17:00

Speaker 1

These are public proceedings being audio streamed via the Parliament's website, and a Hansard transcript is being made. I remind all witnesses that in giving evidence to this committee, they are protected by parliamentary privilege. It is unlawful for anyone to threaten or disadvantage a witness on account of evidence given to a committee, and such action may be treated by the Senate as a contempt. It is also a contempt to give false or misleading evidence. Witnesses also have a right to request to be heard in camera.

If a witness objects to answering a question, they should state the ground upon which the objection is made, and the committee will determine whether it will insist on an answer, having regard to the ground on which is claimed. If the committee determines to insist on an answer, a witness may request that the answer be given in camera.

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