This bill did not become law and is no longer proceeding.
Welfare & housing
Australia would have to keep a national housing and homelessness planThe long-term national framework the bill would require governments to keep in place and update over time. in place, with each government free to choose its policies but required to work toward housing and homelessness goals.
The lack of a meaningful, well-informed national housing plan has contributed to Australia’s mounting housing problems. This bill requires an ongoing national plan, outside input and expert advice, regular progress reports, and independent consumer and watchdog oversight.
Australia had long relied on Commonwealth-state housing funding agreements and a 2008 homelessness white paper, but it still lacked a durable national housing plan while affordability worsened, social housing failed to keep pace with need, and rents and mortgage costs jumped in the post-COVID period from 2022. The bill, introduced in June 2024 after the Albanese Government pledged a national plan, aimed to lock in an ongoing plan with consumer, expert and independent oversight, but it was later removed from the Notice PaperThe parliamentary list of business; the draft says the bill was removed from it, which stopped it progressing. in February 2025 without becoming law.
No significant public case against the bill is recorded so far, and the main visible reservation is that it creates planning, reporting and advisory structures rather than directly delivering homes or funding. In the available debate, the speakers represented supported the bill, so any criticism appears limited to questions about implementation and practical impact rather than opposition to its goals.
Kylea Tink MP introduced this bill. Speeches supporting it came from some crossbench members.
Did it become law?
No
The bill did not complete passage through Parliament.
Final passage
No final passage
The bill has not completed passage and is no longer proceeding.
Time before failure
232 days
From introduction to the final recorded step before the bill stopped proceeding
Meaning
Australia would have to keep a national housing and homelessness planThe long-term national framework the bill would require governments to keep in place and update over time. in place, with each government free to choose its policies but required to work toward housing and homelessness goals.
The Housing MinisterThe federal minister who would be responsible for preparing, updating, and reporting on the national plan. would have to build the national plan with outside input and expert advice, rather than setting it alone inside government.
The national plan would be renewed every 10 years, and the Housing MinisterThe federal minister who would be responsible for preparing, updating, and reporting on the national plan. would have to give Parliament a progress report every three years.
A new National Housing Consumer CouncilA new advisory body that would bring the views of renters, buyers, and people with lived experience of homelessness to the minister. would give the Housing MinisterThe federal minister who would be responsible for preparing, updating, and reporting on the national plan. direct advice from tenants, home buyers, people who have experienced homelessness, and other housing users.
An independent National Housing and Homelessness AdvocateAn independent watchdog who would monitor progress, look into systemic housing problems, and publish reports. would track progress, investigate broad housing problems raised by the public or on its own initiative, and publish reports that require a government response.
The Bill would require that the government of the day has a National Housing and Homelessness Plan (‘The Plan’). It sets out objectives for the Plan, consistent with Australia’s human rights obligations. It sets out goals that the Plan must work towards, but it does not prescribe specific policies and programs. The government of the day will be responsible for its Plan. The Housing Minister will be required to periodically report to the Parliament on progress, and to periodically revise and renew the Plan.National Housing and Homelessness Plan explanatory memorandum
The Minister must develop a National Housing and Homelessness Plan in a collaborative process and with the assistance of expert advice.National Housing and Homelessness Plan explanatory memorandum
The Bill requires that the incumbent Housing Minister prepares and/or maintains a National Housing and Homelessness Plan in accordance with the Bill’s objectives and goals (cl 8). The Plan must be fully refreshed on a 10 year cycle. At three-year intervals, the Minister must prepare and present to the Parliament a report on the effectiveness of the Plan.National Housing and Homelessness Plan explanatory memorandum
This clause establishes a body to represent the interests of housing consumers; in particular home buyers (particularly in the apartment sector and first home buyers), private and social housing tenants, persons with lived experience of homelessness, and representatives of First Nations, people with disability, youth and other groups who face special disadvantage in the housing system. This is intended to serve as a consumer voice counterpart to the industry and academic perspectives of the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council, as well as to balance the already well-represented perspectives of key ‘housing producer’ interests – notably the residential development and real estate industries.National Housing and Homelessness Plan explanatory memorandum
The Advocate may request advice be provided relevant to a review of a systemic housing issue and may require the provision of information by Commonwealth agencies. The Advocate must give the Minister a report of each review for tabling in each House of the Parliament.National Housing and Homelessness Plan explanatory memorandum
Context
Australia had long relied on Commonwealth-state housing funding agreements and a 2008 homelessness white paper, but it still lacked a durable national housing plan while affordability worsened, social housing failed to keep pace with need, and rents and mortgage costs jumped in the post-COVID period from 2022. The bill, introduced in June 2024 after the Albanese Government pledged a national plan, aimed to lock in an ongoing plan with consumer, expert and independent oversight, but it was later removed from the Notice PaperThe parliamentary list of business; the draft says the bill was removed from it, which stopped it progressing. in February 2025 without becoming law.
Commonwealth-state housing funding agreements begin
Commonwealth-State Housing AgreementsOlder funding agreements between the federal and state governments that provided housing money but did not amount to a national strategy. created a national funding framework for housing services, but the explanatory memorandum says these agreements did not amount to a full national housing plan or strategy.
National Housing and Homelessness Plan explanatory memorandum ↗The Road HomeA 2008 federal white paper that set out a national approach to reducing homelessness. sets a national homelessness approach
The Australian Government published The Road HomeA 2008 federal white paper that set out a national approach to reducing homelessness. as a national approach to reducing homelessness, while broader Australia-wide housing strategy still remained absent.
National Housing and Homelessness Plan explanatory memorandum ↗Post-COVID rent and mortgage costs surge
The explanatory memorandum says household numbers surged and interest rates climbed from 2022, pushing sharply rising rent and mortgage payments to the fore.
National Housing and Homelessness Plan explanatory memorandum ↗Housing stress and unmet need are set out before the bill
The explanatory memorandum drew on May 2024 National Housing Supply and Affordability CouncilAn expert council whose analysis is used in the bill to show how housing supply and affordability problems are changing. analysis alongside figures showing declining ownership affordability, rising homelessness and a large shortfall in social housing.
National Housing and Homelessness Plan explanatory memorandum ↗National Housing and Homelessness PlanThe long-term national framework the bill would require governments to keep in place and update over time. Bill is introduced
The bill was introduced to require every government to maintain a national housing and homelessness planThe long-term national framework the bill would require governments to keep in place and update over time., shaped by outside input, regular reporting and independent oversight bodies.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Bill is removed from the Notice PaperThe parliamentary list of business; the draft says the bill was removed from it, which stopped it progressing.
The bill was removed from the Notice PaperThe parliamentary list of business; the draft says the bill was removed from it, which stopped it progressing. under standing order 42, leaving the proposed statutory planning and oversight framework unpassed.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Legislative route
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Key criticism
No significant public case against the bill is recorded so far, and the main visible reservation is that it creates planning, reporting and advisory structures rather than directly delivering homes or funding. In the available debate, the speakers represented supported the bill, so any criticism appears limited to questions about implementation and practical impact rather than opposition to its goals.
No party represented in the debate opposed the bill.
Votes
No recorded votes were found before this bill stopped proceeding.
Parliamentary debate
Start here — lead voices
Kylea Tink supports the bill and argues it would create a national housing and homelessness planThe long-term national framework the bill would require governments to keep in place and update over time. grounded in human rights, with independent reporting and consumer input.
Read in Hansard ↗Pocock supports the bill and wants a National Housing and Homelessness PlanThe long-term national framework the bill would require governments to keep in place and update over time. locked into law to force a sustained, national response to the housing crisis.
Read in Hansard ↗Haines strongly supports the bill, saying it should recognise housing as a human right and require a long-term national plan to coordinate government action on the housing crisis.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
3 speakers · 3 support
“Our housing system is in crisis, impacting individuals and families across Australia. The damaging effects on growth and productivity affect us all. Only a coordinated national plan, embedded in law, can address the complex and multifaceted nature of this crisis. The legislation I propose will ensure that we take a strategic and sustained approach to housing policy, benefiting current and future generations of Australians.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Today I call on the government to recognise this need and allow the bill to be brought to debate. I commend this bill to the House and cede the remainder of my time to the member for Indi.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This government must do everything it can and use every tool at its disposal to address this crisis, and it's why I am proud to support this bill. Crucially, it will be recognised in legislation that housing is a human right and one that this parliament has an obligation to fulfil.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
House · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
House · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
House · Removed from the Notice Paper in accordance with (SO 42)
Removed from the Notice PaperThe parliamentary list of business; the draft says the bill was removed from it, which stopped it progressing. in accordance with (SO 42)
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
