Greens candidate for Richmond Mandy Nolan has slammed the Labor Government’s misuse of the Housing Australia Future Fund, after it was revealed it has spent $30 million without building a single affordable home.

An investigation by The Australian revealed that in 2023 Housing Australia paid more than $24 million to external consultants while $6 million went to annual executive salaries. So far no funding from the $10bn Housing Australia Future fund has been allocated to the Northern Rivers, despite an acute housing shortage in the region.

Quotes attributable to Mandy Nolan, Greens candidate for Richmond:

“It’s a travesty that Labor has spent $30 million lining the pockets of executives and corporate consultants when there are people struggling to put a roof over their heads."

“Here in the Northern Rivers we’re at the pointy end of the housing crisis, with a huge homelessness problem, eye-watering rents and a chronic lack of affordable housing. We have more rough sleepers in this region than in the entire Greater Sydney area, despite having only a fraction of the population. We have 2000 households on the social housing waitlist. The $30 million that Labor has spent on consultants could have built over 70 local homes for families in need.”

“Public money should be used to help the people who need it most. With applications for the Housing Australia Future Fund currently being assessed, I hope that Labor will recognise the serious lack of affordable housing in this region and allocate funding appropriately.”

There is a significant lack of affordable housing in the Richmond electorate, with high housing prices in coastal areas like Ballina, Byron and Tweed compared to the average cost of housing in NSW. At the same time average income is significantly below average income for NSW. The Richmond-Tweed area was recently ranked as the least affordable area to rent in Australia.

For more information or to arrange an interview contact Fiona Ivits on 0487 003 872 

Definitions

Social Housing is government subsidised short and long-term rental housing and rented at approximately 25% to 30% of a persons income. It is accessed by application through the Social Housing Waitlist.  It includes public, community and Aboriginal housing.

Community Housing is a form of social housing provided by non-government community housing providers

Public Housing is a form of social housing that is owned or leased by the New South Wales Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC), and managed by the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ). 

Affordable Housing is housing that is built under the NSW Housing State Environmental Planning Policy and is usually rented at 20% to 25% below the market rent. As it is not tied to median wages in reality it is rarely affordable. 

Affordable housing is generally managed by registered Community Housing Providers but is not considered social housing.