More than a quarter of staff at Housing Australia, the federal agency overseeing the delivery of affordable and social rental homes, have left the organisation over the past year, sparking fresh scrutiny over its internal culture and governance.
According to the Australian Financial Review, Chief Executive Scott Langford told a Senate Estimates hearing that staff turnover reached 26.07% in the 12 months to August. Of the 41 departures, 29 were voluntary, alongside eight redundancies, three terminations, and one death.
The agency has been under pressure following the resignation of Chair Carol Austin two weeks ago, after an investigation into bullying allegations, which she has denied.
Governance and Culture Under Scrutiny
Board member Cathie Armour, a former ASIC commissioner, said the turnover partly stemmed from a restructure under Langford’s leadership, adding that the organisation remained “vitally interested” in staff concerns.
Meanwhile, Chief Operating Officer Lisa Braid revealed that three staff had lodged internal grievances in the past year, and three others had taken complaints to the Fair Work Commission.
The loss of several senior executives since 2023 has raised questions about the agency’s capacity to deliver programs such as the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund.
Wider Industry Pressure
Housing Australia’s internal challenges come amid ongoing debate about housing supply and affordability. Recent analysis suggests that adding more homes alone may not solve affordability issues, while government-backed housing schemes continue to drive record demand across the market.
As scrutiny from Parliament continues, stabilising leadership and culture will be key to ensuring Housing Australia meets its ambitious housing targets.
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