Labor government announces NHFIC appointments

Ms Austin enters her new role as chair of the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation (NHFIC) with experience in the finance industry and holds extensive board experience.

Throughout her career, Ms Austin has held senior positions with Contango Asset Management, Rothschild Australia Asset Management, Commonwealth Funds Management, and the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA).

Currently, she is the chair of the ACT government Investment Advisory Board as well as a director of the NSW State Super, the Grattan Institute, and Infoxchange. Prior to this, she held board roles as director of HSBC Bank Australia and guardian of the Future Fund.

Ms Austin will be replacing Teresa Dyson, who was the acting chair for the NHFIC since 31 March 2023.

Mr Ray joins the NHFIC board with experience in infrastructure planning and financing, government, public policy, and public finance.

He was previously the executive director at the World Bank, executive director of the Asia and Pacific constituency at the International Monetary Fund along with being a long-serving Treasury official, including as a deputy secretary.

Mr Wynne carries over 12 years of experience as the Victorian minister for planning and housing.

He was responsible for initiating significant changes to Victoria’s housing sector during his time, such as the Big Housing Build. Previously, Mr Wynne was lord mayor of Melbourne and served as a Melbourne City Council member.

Minister for housing Julie Collins MP said the appointments aim to continue the “high level of skills and experience” available to the NHFIC (soon to be renamed Housing Australia) in order to deliver on the Albanese government’s new housing commitments.

"This includes commitments under the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund, alongside existing programs such as the Home Guarantee Scheme, Affordable Housing Bond Aggregator and National Housing Infrastructure Facility.

"Last year the Albanese Government widened the remit of the National Housing Infrastructure Facility, making up to $575 million available to invest in social and affordable rental homes," Ms Collins added.

Home Guarantee Scheme expanded

The Albanese government announced last month (May 2023) that it will be expanding the criteria under the Home Guarantee Scheme to enable more people to participate in the different guarantee schemes.

Eligibility criteria for all elements of the scheme — including the First Home Guarantee, the Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee, and the Family Home Guarantee — will be expanded as the government continues to address Australia’s housing challenges.

[RELATED: Home guarantee expanded to enable more people to participate]