Housing Australia Amendment (Accountability) Bill 2025; Second Reading

Senator Roberts supported the bill, arguing it restored parliamentary scrutiny over regulations that bypassed democratic oversight. Roberts criticised the Help to Buy scheme as a trap that prevented full ownership and claimed low-deposit schemes had driven capital city house prices up by eight to 10 per cent. Roberts advocated for One Nation policies including allowing superannuation access for home purchases and reducing immigration to ease housing demand.

Senator Kovacic supported the bill, asserting that the Home Guarantee Scheme increased demand without addressing the underlying supply shortage. Kovacic argued that complex building codes and union interference raised construction costs, and that the bill was necessary to prevent government decisions made without meaningful consultation. Kovacic emphasised the need to boost housing supply and reduce red tape rather than facilitating entry into an overheated market.

Senator Darmanin opposed the bill, warning it would allow the Senate to disallow key programs including the Home Guarantee Scheme, Help to Buy, and the Housing Australia Future Fund. Darmanin argued that passing the bill would delay social and affordable housing construction and force first home buyers to save for larger deposits or pay higher mortgage insurance. Darmanin stated the government’s $45 billion agenda was essential for building 1.2 million homes and supporting essential workers.

Senator Brockman supported the bill, claiming Labor’s housing policies had failed by inflating house prices by up to 10 per cent and exacerbating inflation. Brockman argued that the Home Guarantee Scheme increased mortgage burdens for young Australians and that fiscal policy was working against monetary policy efforts to control inflation. Brockman called for reducing red tape and addressing criminality in the construction industry to lower costs and improve supply.

Senator Whiteaker opposed the bill, arguing it would increase difficulties for first home buyers seeking to purchase homes and slow the delivery of affordable housing. Whiteaker noted that the Home Guarantee Scheme had enabled 185,000 Australians to become homeowners and that the Help to Buy program would support another 40,000 families. Whiteaker criticised the opposition for obstructing housing measures and not offering a credible alternative policy during their decade in government.