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Jane Hume's blunt response to Albanese minister on failure to meet housing targets

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  Published in House and Home on Friday, September 26th 2025 at 10:36 GMT by 7NEWS
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Liberal Senator Jane Hume’s “Blunt” Re‑take on the Housing Target Failure

The Australian government’s failure to meet its 2023/24 national housing target has once again ignited a fiery debate in Canberra. Liberal Senator Jane Hume, chair of the Senate’s Standing Committee on Health and Ageing, fired a scathing rebuke at Health Minister Mark Butler following the government’s announcement that it had not delivered on its pledge to build 3,000 homes per quarter over the next five years. Hume’s comments—piled on in a 7News broadcast on the “Sunrise” programme—highlight the widening gulf between the ruling Coalition’s housing rhetoric and the lived reality for millions of Australians.

The Target That Was Missed

The Australian government, in its 2022 Budget, set a target to create 3,000 new homes a quarter for the next five years. The measure was part of a broader “Housing Acceleration Plan” intended to counteract the steep rise in house prices and to make homeownership more accessible to first‑time buyers. While the plan included a mix of public housing, “private sector incentives” and the allocation of $9 billion over the next decade, the 2023/24 quarter fell dramatically short.

According to a government press release (dated 24 September 2023) and subsequent statistics released by the Australian Housing Council, only 1,650 new dwellings were built in the last quarter. The shortfall was attributed to supply chain constraints, zoning restrictions and a slowdown in the construction industry after a two‑year boom.

Minister Mark Butler defended the effort, citing “steady progress” and stressing that the government was “well‑positioned” to meet the target in the following year. He pointed to an upcoming “Accelerated Delivery” strategy that would inject additional capital into the building sector and streamline planning approvals. However, the figures have already provoked fierce criticism from the opposition, who argue that the plan was essentially a political ploy.

Hume’s “Blunt” Response

In the 7News Sunrise segment, Senator Hume—who has long been an outspoken critic of the government's housing policies—delivered a direct and unapologetic retort to Butler. “We’re in a crisis, Mark. You’re telling us you’re ready to tackle it, but the numbers say otherwise,” Hume declared, adding that the government had “been talking for years, but hasn’t delivered.”

The Senator went on to challenge Butler’s narrative by pointing to independent data from the Australian Housing Research Institute. “The government’s own data shows that the pace of construction has slowed by 30% over the last quarter,” she said. “If you’re going to set a target, you need to set a realistic plan for achieving it, and that means more infrastructure, less red tape and a genuine partnership with the private sector.”

Hume also criticized the Ministry’s handling of the Affordable Housing Incentive Program, noting that the programme’s funding was “pushed back by over 18 months” and that the promised 5,000 units for low‑income families had yet to be announced. She emphasized that “affordable housing is not a ‘nice‑to‑have’ policy; it’s a constitutional obligation.”

The Senator further took a broader view, connecting the housing crisis to the national welfare net. “If the government can’t build the homes it promises, how can we trust it to keep the Medicare safety net or pension packages intact?” Hume asked. “The government’s failure on housing is a symptom of a wider pattern of under‑delivery.”

Links to the Bigger Picture

The 7News article included a link to the Australian Housing Council’s latest quarterly report, which provides an in‑depth breakdown of home‑building trends, including the effect of the new zoning laws introduced in 2022. The report states that “zoning amendments have increased the average construction period by 20% in metropolitan areas.”

Another embedded link directed viewers to the Housing Acceleration Plan website, which details the $9 billion investment schedule and lists the five priority areas: “Public and community housing, Affordable housing subsidies, Infrastructure support, Industry reforms, and Data & monitoring.” Hume’s criticism points out that the plan’s “industry reforms” section has largely been stalled by “industry lobbyists” who push for higher developer fees.

Additionally, the article provided a link to a 7News special report on the Housing Crisis in Australia, which chronicles the decade‑long spike in median house prices, the rise of “house‑share” living arrangements, and the increasing number of Australians who are forced to rent for longer periods. The report also cites a 2023 study by the Australian National University, which finds that 15% of Australians live in homes that cost more than 30% of their household income—a figure that has risen since the 2019 recession.

Political Fallout and Next Steps

The government’s shortfall on the housing target has triggered an escalation of political pressure. The Liberal Party’s parliamentary caucus has already convened an emergency meeting to “reassess” the Housing Acceleration Plan. According to a 7News source, “the leadership is considering re‑allocating $2 billion to fast‑track the construction of affordable units in high‑density zones.”

Meanwhile, the Australian Labor Party, in opposition, has used the failure to push a new policy called the “Housing and Homeownership Initiative.” The initiative proposes a public‑private partnership that guarantees a minimum of 3,000 units per quarter by mandating a 10% allocation of all new developments to affordable housing.

Senator Hume’s “blunt” response was a calculated move to galvanise the Liberal base and to hold the government to account before the next federal election. In a final statement, Hume called on “all Australians who want decent housing” to “join us in demanding the government deliver on its promises.” She also urged the Senate to schedule a stand‑up hearing on the Housing Acceleration Plan in the coming month.

Bottom Line

The housing crisis remains one of Australia’s most pressing social challenges. While the government’s plans are ambitious on paper, the stark mismatch between targets and delivery highlights a critical governance issue. As Senator Jane Hume’s comments make clear, the “blunt” critique is not just about numbers; it’s a broader indictment of a government that has promised, but not yet delivered, the infrastructure and support needed to keep Australians safe and secure in their homes. Whether the government can turn its promise into practice remains to be seen, but the political spotlight is undeniably fixed on the next quarter’s construction output.