The 'shot in the arm' for Australian affordable housing

The Federal Government’s proposed housing fund is the ‘shot in the arm’ required to address the housing crisis, the Property Council of Australia said today.

Property Council chief executive Mike Zorba said the Albanese Government’s second attempt to pass the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) Bill through the Senate next week was to be welcomed.

The Federal Government announced the HAFF in June this year, describing it as ‘an ambitious agenda’ for affordable and social rental housing. At that time, Federal Housing Minister Julie Collins signed an amendment to the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation’s (NHFIC) investment mandate to increase its liability cap from $5.5 billion to $7.5 billion.

However, the bill failed to pass the senate on its first attempt, sparking talk of a double dissolution trigger if it fails again next week.

Mr Zorba said Senate approval would go some way to addressing the housing shortfall in Australia. Estimates based on data from the 2021 Census revealed that more than 500,000 Australians on low income were in inappropriate housing on census night, which included homelessness, overcrowding or households where more than 30 percent of income was spent on rent.

Minister Collins said the $10 billion HAFF represented ‘the single biggest investment in social and affordable housing by a Federal Government in more than a decade’. The new initiative is expected to fund 30,000 new social and affordable rental homes.

Mr Zorba said Senate approval would kickstart the housing supply recovery.

“The HAFF is the shot in the arm the nation needs to close the housing deficit,” Mr Zorbas said.

“The 30,000 new social and affordable houses that hang in the balance need to be green-lighted by all Senators as soon as possible.

“Beyond the HAFF, the fastest paths to new housing remain setting housing targets, creating incentives for more supply and fixing broken state planning systems.

“We also need governments to boost helpful asset classes like purpose-built student accommodation, retirement living communities and build-to-rent housing,” he said.

Australia’s housing debate is often dominated by affordability and supply, but a new collaboration between Brickworks and acclaimed architecture firm Kennedy Nolan argues the conversation should also focus on the quality and longevity of the homes being built.

The project, titled Our Next Neighbourhood, examines how suburban housing could evolve in response to shrinking block sizes, rising energy costs, increasing density and changing family structures.

Rather than proposing luxury dream homes, the initiative focuses on what its creators describe as achievable suburban housing models that are more flexible, sustainable, and better suited to modern Australian life.

Brickworks commissioned Kennedy Nolan to investigate what suburban housing might look like if “design, long-term liveability and enduring materials were placed at the centre of the conversation”.

The result is two housing concepts, known as the Street Terrace and Canopy Terrace, which explore higher-density living while maintaining access to green space, natural light and privacy.

The designs incorporate adaptable floorplans that can evolve as family needs change, along with passive design principles intended to reduce reliance on mechanical heating and cooling.

Brett Ward, General Manager of Marketing at Brickworks, said the company wanted to broaden the discussion around housing beyond simply increasing supply.

“Much of the housing conversation today is understandably focused on supply and affordability, but there is an equally important discussion to be had about the quality and longevity of the homes we build,” he said.

“We wanted to explore how thoughtful design, combined with durable, resilient materials, could create homes that not only function well today, but continue to support Australian families and communities long into the future.”

Kennedy Nolan said the project was partly inspired by concerns that contemporary housing often struggles to adapt to changing household structures and environmental pressures.

The architects said innovation in suburban housing was “essential” to address changing family groupings, energy use, urban heat island effects and growing disconnection from place.

According to the design team, the concepts draw on lessons from some of Australia’s most influential housing projects while seeking to create neighbourhoods with stronger links to landscape, community and local identity.

Rachel Nolan, founder of Kennedy Nolan, said the practice saw an opportunity to reimagine suburban housing as something “more connected to our climate, our landscape, our communities and our Australian identity”.

The project comes as policymakers, developers and planners continue searching for ways to deliver more housing without sacrificing liveability, neighbourhood character or long-term sustainability.

The ‘shot in the arm’ for Australian affordable housing

An ambitious agenda to provide accessible, affordable housing needs to push ahead, national property council says

Brickworks has enlisted acclaimed architecture studio Kennedy Nolan to explore how homes could become more adaptable, energy-efficient and connected to community.