It serves two main functions: providing advice on national housing policy when requested by the Housing Minister, and initiating its own research and recommendations.

The Council brings together experts from government, industry, community sectors and academia, with specialist knowledge spanning economics, residential construction, planning, social housing, First Nations housing, and homelessness.

Supported by a Treasury secretariat, the Council is required to publish annual reports detailing its research findings and providing analysis of Australia's housing system. This statutory body represents the government's commitment to evidence-based policy making in addressing housing challenges through independent expert advice.

The Council's establishment as a formal statutory body is going to help tackle long-term housing affordability challenges - we probably won't see many impacts before the 2025 election, but this is a great forward-thinking step for tackling the housing crisis.

[1] https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r6971

[2] https://nhsac.gov.au/about

[3] https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/legislation/ems/r6971_ems_65319d44-1295-43e7-8718-251583e588fd/upload_pdf/JC008799.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf#search=%22legislation/ems/r6971_ems_65319d44-1295-43e7-8718-251583e588fd%22