The ANAO has confirmed that it will consider investigating the Albanese Government’s Housing Support Program as part of its 2025-2026 audit program.
Member for Mallee, Dr Anne Webster officially requested that the Auditor-General examine probity and potential bias in the program.
Dr Webster said she became concerned that, despite a critical housing shortage across her electorate including Mildura, Swan Hill, Horsham and scores of smaller towns, none received funding in the Government’s Program funding round announcement last month.
On January 16, the Albanese Government issued a press release from the minister responsible, Catherine King, announcing the allocations to the Housing Support Program in Victoria.
The only places in Victoria to be extended funding for enabling housing infrastructure were in Marong, Morwell, Ararat and Beaufort, according to the release.
Further analysis suggests the bulk of the funding, more than 70 per cent, was allocated to projects in Labor held electorates – Ballarat, McEwen and Bendigo.
“It leads me to question whether the Program was granting funds in accordance with stated criteria, and whether that criterion was appropriate in the circumstances,” Dr Webster said.
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