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The Auditor-General responded on 27 October 2025 to correspondence from Senator Andrew Bragg dated 10 October 2025, requesting that the Auditor-General undertake a performance audit into the Housing Australia Future Fund availability payments.
27 October 2025
Senator Andrew Bragg
Senator for New South Wales
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600
By email: Senator.Bragg@aph.gov.au
Dear Senator Bragg
Performance audit of the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) availability payments
Thank you for your correspondence dated 10 October 2025 requesting a performance audit of the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) availability payments. You asked that the audit consider the expansion of HAFF availability payments as reported in the media by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on 5 October 2025.
A performance audit of the Design and delivery of the Housing Australia Future Fund is currently underway and is expected to table in Parliament in June 2026. The objective of the audit is to assess the effectiveness of the Department of the Treasury’s (Treasury) design and delivery of the HAFF. The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) will examine if Treasury effectively designed the HAFF and if it established effective delivery arrangements. I have considered the matters raised in your letter and have determined that the current audit remains appropriate.
The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) is currently preparing the Annual Audit Work Program (AAWP) for 2026–27 and will continue to assess risks in Housing Australia from both a performance audit and financial statements audit perspective.
The AAWP reflects the ANAO’s audit strategy and informs the Parliament, government entities and the public of the planned audit coverage for the Australian Government sector. The 2026–27 AAWP is expected to be published in early July 2026.
Yours sincerely
Dr Caralee McLiesh PSM
Auditor-General
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