Federal government appoints Housing Australia board member

Catherine “Cathie” Armour has been appointed as a part-time member to the Housing Australia board for a five-year period, marking the first appointment of a member to its board since its commencement.

Ms Armour is currently a non-executive director of Cboe Australia Pty Ltd Limited, having held the role since April 2023. Prior to this, Ms Armour was the commissioner for the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) for nine years, from June 2013–22.

On Ms Armour’s appointment to the Housing Australia board, Minister of Housing Julie Collins MP stated: “The appointment of Ms Amour will continue the high level of skills and experience available to Housing Australia to help implement the Albanese government’s ambitious housing policy agenda.”

The appointment came as Housing Australia proceeds with its first board meeting following its start earlier this month.

Furthermore, the Housing Australia board extended its thanks to outgoing board member Teresa Dyson, who will step down from the board after a five-year tenure and as acting chair between April and June 2023.

Housing Australia – formerly the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation (NHFIC) – is responsible for administering housing schemes such as the Home Guarantee Scheme, the Affordable Housing Bond Aggregator and the National Housing Infrastructure Facility.

In addition, Housing Australia will lead the charge for the Albanese government’s $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF), which aims to deliver an additional 40,000 new social and affordable rental homes.

A “new era” of housing policy

The rebranding of the NHFIC followed the passage and royal assent of the federal government’s housing legislative package (the Treasury Laws Amendment Bill 2023 that saw the HAFF Bill).

Speaking at the time of the commencement, Ms Collins said Housing Australia “represents the start of an exciting new era of housing policy in Australia”.

“It’s all part of our broad housing agenda to ensure more Australians have a safe and affordable place to call home – whether they’re buying, renting or needing a safe space to spend the night,” Ms Collins said.

The commencement of Housing Australia coincided with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese promoting the investment of more than $80 million through the Social Housing Accelerator in Victoria to deliver 120 new social homes.

Mr Albanese commented: “The Social Housing Accelerator is real dollars, driving real change and building more homes for Australians.

“This is the Allan government and the Commonwealth working together to deliver more homes for Victorians.”

[RELATED: ‘New era’ under Housing Australia commences: Julie Collins]