GLOBAL - A fiery session in the Australian Parliament on Thursday, 27 November 2025, saw several opposition Coalition MPs, including Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy Ted O'Brien, ejected from the chamber during a heated question time. The clashes centered on the government's housing and energy policies, reflecting a broader global struggle with housing affordability and energy security that resonates with challenges in Kenya and East Africa.

The debate saw the government of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defend its strategies to tackle Australia's housing shortage. Independent MP Kate Chaney questioned whether the government's policies were aimed at increasing, plateauing, or reducing house prices, a critical issue for young Australians priced out of the market. Mr. Albanese responded by emphasizing the government's focus on increasing housing supply through initiatives like the AUD $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) and the Build to Rent incentive program.

The HAFF, established on 1 November 2023, is a dedicated investment fund intended to generate returns to finance the delivery of 30,000 new social and affordable homes within its first five years. Complementing this is the Build to Rent scheme, which offers tax incentives, such as an accelerated depreciation rate and lower withholding tax for foreign investors, to encourage the construction of large-scale, long-term rental properties.

Global Housing Crisis Context

The situation in Australia is a microcosm of a global housing affordability crisis. According to a 2019 survey by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, 90 percent of 200 polled cities worldwide were considered unaffordable based on the house price-to-income ratio. The International Monetary Fund has noted a sudden deterioration in affordability in the post-pandemic era, with housing prices rising faster than incomes in many parts of the world. This crisis is driven by factors including income inequality, housing being treated as an investment vehicle, and a simple lack of supply. These are familiar pressures in rapidly urbanizing Kenyan cities like Nairobi, where the gap between housing costs and average incomes continues to widen.

Energy Policy and International Commitments

The parliamentary session also touched on Australia's energy policy and international climate commitments. Nationals MP David Batt questioned Resources Minister Madeleine King about Santos' Gladstone LNG project and separately challenged Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen on his ability to manage domestic energy security while serving as President of COP negotiations. Prime Minister Albanese defended the confidentiality of National Security Committee meetings in his response.

Mr. Bowen's role as "President of Negotiations" for the upcoming COP31, to be hosted by Turkey, places Australia in a key position to influence global climate action. This has implications for Africa, as Australia has previously supported climate initiatives on the continent, such as the System for Land Based Emissions Estimation in Kenya (SLEEK). Furthermore, with over 170 Australian mining firms operating in 35 African countries, Australia's push towards green energy and its demand for critical minerals could significantly impact its economic partnerships across the continent, including in East Africa.

Kenya-Australia Relations

While the direct impact of Australia's domestic political squabbles on Kenya is minimal, the underlying policy issues are highly relevant. Kenya and Australia share a six-decade-long diplomatic relationship and are exploring an Economic Partnership Agreement. Recent discussions in Nairobi between Kenyan Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Australian Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Matt Thistlethwaite on 13 October 2025, focused on deepening cooperation in trade, mining, agriculture, and climate action. In 2024, two-way trade surpassed AUD $1 billion. As Kenya seeks to attract Australian investment and increase its exports, understanding the political and economic priorities of the Australian government, from housing to climate change, is crucial for navigating and strengthening this partnership.