Housing and Olympics on estimates agenda

Today’s hearing begins with a row between MPs over the tabling of leaked documents outlining funding cuts for the emergency housing programme.

The Emergency Housing Response (IHR) scheme puts people in need into accommodation in a motel or hotel, with Labor housing spokeswoman Meaghan Scanlon questioning a $42 million drop in 2026-27.

Mark Cridland, director general of the Department of Housing and Works, confirmed the scheme had helped 1,237 households, a decrease from 2,150 households in March 2025.

“Overall, our specialist homelessness services were able to transition 3,252 households into UST’s housing solution,” he said. “The most common results were public housing, private housing, public housing and supported accommodation.”