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Penry Buckley
Albanese government says latest round of housing fund will deliver 21,000 more homes
The Albanese government says it will deliver 21,000 new social or affordable homes by June 2029 under the next round of the Housing Australia Future Fund (Haff).
Under the third round of the fund, which provides loans to housing providers to build homes rather than purchasing them outright, $2.6bn will be offered from late January 2026.
A new component will focus on the delivery of homes in regional Australia, while $600m of the funding will be a dedicated to First Nationals housing providers to support a 10% First Nations tenancy target across social housing delivered under round three.
The federal housing minister, Clare O’Neil, says the project will facilitate “More homes. More speed. More scale”.
Australia’s housing crisis comes from a housing shortage so all governments have to build.
The government has built 5,000 social or affordable homes since 2022, including 889 under the Haff, which which was established in November 2023.
It has committed to delivering 55,000 by mid-2029. As of June 2024, there were 169,000 households on the social housing waitlist.
Residents in Darwin and surrounds told to continue sheltering in place
Even though the worst of the storm has passed, authorities say residents should stay in their shelters until given the all clear. The Bureau of Meteorology in its latest advice states:
[The Northern Territory Emergency Service] NTES advises people about southern Bathurst Island and very exposed coastal locations around the Cox Peninsula, should stay calm and remain in a secure shelter while the destructive winds continue. Do not venture outside. Heed the advice and follow the instructions of Emergency Services personnel and local authorities.
NTES advises people about the central and western Tiwi Islands, and elsewhere between Daly River Mouth to Cape Hotham, including Darwin, should shelter in a safe place.
Updated at 17.04 EST
No reports so far of injuries amid trail of destruction from Tropical Cyclone Fina
Cyclone Fina has left a trail of destruction across the top end after sweeping through the Van Diemen Gulf between Darwin and the Tiwi Islands overnight.
The category three storm swept through the stretch of water bringing gale force winds just shy of those seen in Cyclone Tracy.
However, only minor damage has been found in Darwin with trees toppling along the pavement and catching the occasional fence, power lines or footpath in their wake.
There have been no reports of injuries or deaths.
Amid ongoing staffing shortages, Royal Darwin hospital was put on Code Brown – essentially emergencies only – on Friday.
– Amanda Parkinson
Updated at 17.10 EST
Roof collapse at Royal Darwin hospital amid heavy rain
Roofing at the Royal Darwin hospital partially collapsed on Saturday but no one was hurt.
Steve Edgington, a member of the Northern Territory legislative assembly, shared an image of the collapsed roofing and bricks strewn on the first floor of the hospital.
He said he was reassured all staff and patients are safe, with NT police incident controller Emma Carter confirming on ABC Radio Darwin that no one was hurt.
Roofing at the #RoyalDarwinHospital has partially collapsed in an area on the first floor with reports there is water in the building.
My first priority is to ensure all staff and patients are safe and I have been reassured that this is the case.
Once I have further… pic.twitter.com/WwliVn2yJj
— Steve Edgington MLA (@SteveEdgoMLA) November 22, 2025
– with AAP
Updated at 17.03 EST
Good morning!
Tropical Cyclone Fina has swept by the Top End, after a night of damaging winds and heavy rain for residents. The category three system has moved further over the Timor Sea, and is now sitting about 80 kilometres away from Darwin.
COP30 has wrapped up, with Australia becoming one of 24 countries signing the Colombia-led Belém Declaration on the Just Transition Away from Fossil Fuels.
Meanwhile, G20 leaders including Australia have signed a joint statement at the summit in South Africa strengthening their commitment to the Paris agreement, despite US President Donald Trump boycotting the event.
The new NSW Liberal leader, Kellie Sloan, says taking the party’s top state job “wasn’t on my bingo card”, and that she was only convinced to take it “in the final couple of days”.
And the housing minister, Clare O’Neil, has announced the largest round yet under the Housing Australia Future Fund, including more than 21,000 new social and affordable homes around the country.
Let’s get into it.