Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) Share this | Hansard source

The Defence Housing Australia Amendment Bill 2025 will expand the main function of Defence Housing Australia to provide housing and housing related services to those making important contributions to the defence of Australia. This is recognition of the fact that the ADF, in modern times, relies on the support, services and cooperation of a wide range of external partners and organisations, including foreign militaries, who may require housing support in Australia. It also recognises the changing nature of the Defence workforce, which no longer exclusively encompasses ADF members and APS employees.

In doing so, this bill addresses a key recommendation from a 2020 report by the ANAO on the management of Defence Housing Australia. That report recommended expanding DHA's functions to provide housing for foreign exchange and visiting military personnel and to the philanthropic organisations that provide counselling and other support services to ADF members and their families. That is what this bill does. It also provides a mechanism for a defence minister to determine that DHA can provide housing and housing related services to broader categories of people to meet the operational needs of the ADF and the requirements of the Department of Defence.

As a number of senators have noted in their contributions, one of the early applications of the provisions contained in the bill will be to support our requirement to house personnel coming to Australia as part of Submarine Rotational Force—West, under AUKUS. This includes supporting the provision of housing in close proximity to HMAS Stirling for US and UK military, civilian and contractor personnel arriving in Western Australia with their families.

As was observed by the minister in the other place, the Albanese government is committed to AUKUS. We're committed to supporting our AUKUS partners appropriately and we are conscious that this should not be to the detriment of local communities. The government is also seeking to ensure that overseas personnel are integrated into local communities in order to provide them and their families the best possible experience of Australia. Using DHA to do this ensures that Australia secures housing that aligns with Defence Force standards while limiting any negative impacts that may be had on our local housing market.

Before completing, I want to touch briefly on a couple of matters raised over the course of the debate and address some of the second reading amendments which either have been moved or are to be moved at the conclusion of debate. Senators have asked questions about security screenings. The specifics of security clearance processes are appropriately confidential but require extensive checks to identify and manage risk. The Australian Government Security Vetting Agency independently conducts security assessments for all individuals who require security clearance. These assessments are rigorous and ongoing.

Senators have also asked about costs in relation to AUKUS. Specific arrangements on the housing of AUKUS personnel are subject to ongoing cost-sharing negotiations with the UK and the US. Those negotiations are proceeding under previously agreed trilateral cost-sharing principles for the broader AUKUS trilateral partnership.

The government will not be supporting the second reading amendments that either have been moved or are to be moved. In relation to Senator Lambie's, DHA's core function is to provide housing for ADF members and their families; we acknowledge and affirm that. However, a blanket 'ADF always first' requirement could undermine Defence's ability to meet international commitments or other defence partnerships, particularly in the Pacific and with close allies. More generally, Australia benefits from reciprocal housing and supporting arrangements. There are existing transparency measures through DHA's annual report, Senate estimates and reporting to Defence and parliament. Disaggregated data on housing allocations and waiting times could expose sensitive information about ADF member locations, demand pressure or deployment patterns.

In relation to the amendment proposed by Senator Shoebridge, the explanatory memorandum is self-explanatory and stands on its own terms. In relation to Senator Nampijinpa Price's amendment, this government has made a substantial investment in Australia's national security.

I would like to thank all senators who have contributed to the debate on the Defence Housing Australia Amendment Bill 2025. I commend this bill to the Senate.