The Inquiry’s first report, released February 2025, established that Indigenous people had the highest levels of unmet housing need.

It showed around 45,700 low-income Indigenous households had unmet housing needs in 2021 – equivalent to one in every eight Indigenous households or roughly double the rate of all Australian households.

This figure was projected to rise by 26,400 households over 20 years, driven by unaffordable rents, overcrowding, and inadequate housing.

The second report, released alongside the final report, examined how the Indigenous housing system was structured, operated and funded, and explored housing tenure choices for Indigenous people.

A comprehensive national analysis revealed a fragmented Indigenous housing system where accountability was lacking, governance arrangements were complex and poorly coordinated and efforts at reform had fallen short.

Findings of the first and second report inform this report, which proposes a long-term governance and resource framework for sustainable and effective Indigenous housing. An Indigenous Advisory Committee comprising First Nations housing experts oversaw the Inquiry research and shaped the framework for future Indigenous housing.

The resulting framework for a National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing Strategy was endorsed by an Inquiry Panel of government representatives and Indigenous leaders and comprised four key pillars and associated priority actions.

Pillar 1: Strengthening governance

Priority actions included legislation of – and investment in – the Housing Policy Partnership (a national platform co-chaired by the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing Association and Treasury) to ensure governments respect its processes and deliver on its recommendations.

The Inquiry also recommended Indigenous housing peak bodies be strengthened and long-term funding committed.

International standards on a right to housing and self-determination should be legislated.

The Indigenous Advisory Committee recommended independent audits and evaluation of 2020 Closing the Gap agreement performance be undertaken to hold governments accountable.

Pillar 2: Ensuring sufficient investment

Despite recent increases in social and affordable housing investment, and Indigenous people being recognised as a priority group, there was little transparency on how much Indigenous households and organisations benefitted.

The Inquiry recommended long-term government funding for Indigenous social housing to address unmet demand.

Pillar 3: Boosting community-controlled housing

The Inquiry found the Indigenous community-controlled housing (ICCH) sector lacked a growth plan and recommended progressively increasing housing stock owned and managed by the sector.

Transferring of publicly owned housing to Indigenous community-controlled housing organisations should be a core element of the plan to grow the ICCH sector.

The Inquiry also recommended establishing geographic cost benchmarks for services and subsidies to address funding gaps between rent revenues and costs.

Pillar 4: Enhancing tenure choices and pathways

The Inquiry recommended governments promote culturally appropriate home ownership pathways and the establishment of a Housing Innovation Fund to support models like community land trusts and shared equity.

Rental access should be facilitated by increasing Commonwealth Rental Assistance, strengthening anti-discrimination legislation and funding Indigenous rental advocacy and support services.

Pathways to system reform

Strategy development should be Indigenous led with a community-based consultation process facilitated by the Housing Policy Partnership, in line with its workplan commitment to develop a five-year Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing Plan.

This Inquiry involved a review of the current Indigenous housing system both nationally and for each state and territory jurisdiction, needs analysis of the affordability, suitability and adequacy of current housing provision, and consultations with key informants from the government and community-controlled housing sectors. A panel was convened to discuss key findings and resulting policy implications.