MEMBER for Mallee Anne Webster has accused the Federal Government of pork barreling housing funds into Labor-held electorates.
The Australian National Audit Office confirmed it would consider investigating the government’s Housing Support Program as part of its 2025-2026 audit program.
Dr Webster requested 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 Swan Hill, none received funding in the funding round announcement last month.
The only places in Victoria to be extended funding for enabling housing infrastructure were in Marong, Morwell, Ararat and Beaufort.
Dr Webster said “further analysis” suggested the bulk of the funding – more than 70 per cent – was allocated to projects in Labor-held electorates of Ballarat, McEwen and Bendigo.
“It was alarming that no funding was allocated to my electorate of Mallee, which is over a third of the state of Victoria,” she said. “I have 12 shires and not one received any support.
“Mallee shires do not have the wealth of larger city councils and desperately need a government injection of funding for deeply necessary housing in small communities.
“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.”
“I welcome this undertaking by Dr McLiesh and the ANAO because housing and sky-rocketing rents are such a problem – not just in my electorate, but across Victoria.”
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure Transport and Regional Development Bridget McKenzie said regional Australia was suffering from the most acute shortage of housing in decades “which had been exacerbated by the government’s decision to bring in more than a million new migrants in two years”.
“We face an urgent problem in the housing and rental markets, and we urgently need to fast-track housing projects with enabling infrastructure such as roads, sewerage and water,” Senator McKenzie said.
“And we need to have confidence that any allocations under this program are being applied where the need is greatest, not where it is politically convenient.”
Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said the investment would unlock up to 3149 more homes across the state.
“A place to call home is not a luxury or a nice-to-have, but a fundamental need, and our government is making this a reality for more Australians,” she said.
“From Ararat and Beaufort to Mernda, we are doing the essential work of delivering enabling infrastructure to get more homes built, faster.
“The Housing Support Program is a critical part of our work with states and territories to help them meet the ambitious national target to build 1.2 million new homes.”
Ms King didn’t respond before deadline.
