Cost of Living Discussions in the Senate (04/09/2025)

Cost of Living and Housing Affordability Discussions

• Senator Wendy Askew began by criticizing the Labor government’s changes to the Home Guarantee Scheme, originally created by the Coalition to help low-income Australians with home deposits. She expressed concerns that the modifications lack essential scrutiny, potentially leading to inflated property prices and unrestricted participant caps (Pages 34-36).
• Askew highlighted the Scrutiny of Delegated Legislation Committee’s dissatisfaction with non-disallowable amendments to the Housing Australia Investment Mandate Direction, pointing out that these amendments should remain subject to parliamentary scrutiny for transparency (Pages 34-36).
• She noted a marked decline in Freedom of Information (FOI) request approvals, from around 50% under the previous government to just 25% currently, which she interpreted as a reduction in transparency regarding housing policies (Pages 34-36).
• Dr. Catherine Williams from the Centre for Public Integrity was quoted suggesting that the government’s reliance on delegated legislation is a deliberate effort to evade scrutiny, compromising democratic accountability (Page 36).
• Askew referenced a historical commitment by Sir Robert Menzies for responsible democratic governance and criticized the current administration for not living up to these principles regarding public spending and housing policy (Page 36).
• Senator Fatima Payman also engaged in discussions about housing, calling for greater accountability in the government’s financial commitments and transparency concerning the management of housing affordability initiatives (Page 34).
• The interplay of these discussions highlighted a growing concern among senators regarding the affordability of housing for low-income Australians. The sentiment was echoed in criticisms that the government’s approaches might lead to further housing crises rather than providing effective solutions.
• Overall, the discussions in Parliament showcased significant concerns about housing policy transparency, the implications of the Home Guarantee Scheme changes, and the overarching impact of these decisions on the cost of living for everyday Australians. There was a clear call among several senators for increased scrutiny and a reassessment of the current policy framework to alleviate housing affordability issues.