Unlocking New Homes for Regional WA
MRAC & State Housing Partnership
Murchison Region Aboriginal Corporation (MRAC) proposes a 25-Year Partnership Leasing Model with State Government. This action will enable existing maintenance liabilities be turned into a construction boom for the Mid-West and Gascoyne regions without increasing State debt.
We are at a unique inflection point. By leveraging the new federal Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF), MRAC is proposing a 25-year partnership with the Western Australian Government which enables redirection of recurrent spending into new housing supply.
Please note, comprehensive Partnership Proposals have been developed for submission to State Government providing greater details of this proposal. The following webpage provides an overview of this proposal.
Call to Action (Links):
• Read the MRAC Policy Business Case
• Read the MRAC Project Explanation Report
• Read the MRAC & State Housing Partnership Presentation
• Read the MRAC & State Housing Partnership Questions & Answers
MRAC & State Housing Partnership Video Presentation
MRAC & State Housing Partnership Junior/Youth Video Presentation
MRAC & State Housing Partnership Podcast
The Capability: A Proven Regional Partner 40 Years of Quality Delivery
MRAC is a Tier 3 Registered Community Housing Provider with four decades of experience delivering essential housing services across 25% of Western Australia.
Key Performance Highlights:
• Near 100% Occupancy Rates: We ensure no home sits empty while families wait.
• Rapid Turnaround: Even properties requiring full refurbishment are re-tenanted within 4–6 weeks.
• Local Expertise: Based in the regions we directly engage with local contractors to keep money in the community and response times fast.
The Partnership Model: Smart Policy Engineering
A Lease, Not a Sale Blurb: The model is beautifully simple: The State Government leases existing social housing dwellings to MRAC for 25 years while retaining 100% asset ownership.
How it Works (Step-by-Step):
1. Lease: The State grants MRAC a 25-year lease on selected dwellings.
2. Unlock: MRAC uses the lease certainty to secure federal HAFF Availability Payments.
3. Maintain: Federal funding covers 100% of major maintenance and lifecycle renewal for 25 years.
4. Build: The State redirects its saved maintenance funds (approx. $930,000 per home*) to build brand-new social housing.
*Based on 2026 Productivity Commission Government Housing Report figures confirming annual costs per property at $27,273 annually, $930,000 is the indexed 25-year forecast expenditure.
Impact: The 2.5x Housing Multiplier
Turning Dead Money into New Dwellings: Managing a single social housing home currently costs the State roughly $27,273 per year. Over 25 years, that is nearly a million dollars that only maintains the status quo.
Our Impact Goals:
• 2.5x Multiplier: For every home transitioned to this model, the State saves enough to build 2.5 new homes.
• Homing Families: Our 400-dwelling rollout plan aims to house an additional 2,970 people by June 2029.
• Closing the Gap: This model prioritizes community-controlled housing solutions and regional self-reliance.
Tenant Resources: Stability & Support
Under this partnership current State homes part of the proposed transition to MRAC management. MRAC wants to assure you that your stability is our priority.
Tenant Rights Reassurance:
• Your Rent: Remains the same (income-based).
• Your Lease: Remains legally valid and unchanged.
• Your Home: You do not need to move.
• Your Homes Maintenance: You now have local support for maintenance issues.
• Your Homes Upgrades: MRAC forecasts and plans for ongoing upgrades to all properties e.g. Air Conditioners, Kitchens etc.
Why Now?
A Generational Opportunity: The federal Round 3 HAFF settings clarified in December 2025 have opened a competitive window that is measured in weeks. This requires partnerships be confirmed now to allow formal Round 3 HAFF applications to be logged.
Delay means continuing to spend State funds on a treadmill of maintenance rather than building new supply.
Delay means Round 3 HAFF funding will go to other regions or more likely be locked up in metro and eastern states.
If you have any questions relating to MRACs proposed State partnership please contact MRAC on the below.