10 October 2025

Dr Caralee McLiesh PSM
Auditor-General
Australian National Audit Office
GPO Box 707
Canberra ACT 2601

By email: ag1@anao.gov.au

Dear Dr Mcliesh

I am writing to request that the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) undertake a performance audit into the Housing Australia Future Fund availability payments.

On Sunday 5 October, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) released a media article discussing the expansion of availability payments since the Housing Australia Future Fund was first established:

Early estimates by the Grattan Institute, which proposed the idea, put the required top-up amount [availability payment] at around $250,000 per home.

Some of the smallest projects are also some of the most expensive. Four individual homes in outer Port Macquarie in New South Wales will receive availability payments worth a collective $1.7 million each over 25 years.

One mega-project for 969 homes scattered across various locations in Victoria will receive availability payments worth $883 million — more than $900,000 per home.

Given this media reporting reveals payments are, in some instances, more than triple that of original estimates, I believe it is appropriate that you exercise your powers under section 11 of the Auditor-General Act 1997 and conduct a performance audit of the expansion of Housing Australia Future Fund availability payments to ensure the efficient and prudent use of taxpayer funds in the interests of transparency and accountability.

I look forward to your consideration and response.

Your sincerely

Senator Andrew Bragg
Shadow Minister for Productivity and Deregulation
Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness
Liberal Senator for New South Wales