Committees and charters

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    Board Charter

    The Board Charter governs the Board’s operations. It sets out the Board's role and responsibilities, composition, structure and membership requirements.

    Audit and Risk Committee 

    The Board established an Audit and Risk Committee, in compliance with section 45 of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act) and section 17 of the PGPA Rule and the duty imposed on the Board under section 16 of the PGPA Act, to establish and maintain a system of risk oversight and management. The committee’s role is to provide independent assurance to the Board. 

    Pursuant to section 17 of the PGPA Rule, the committee’s primary function is to review the appropriateness of the Board’s financial reporting, performance reporting, system of risk oversight and management, and system of internal control for Housing Australia. The committee is not responsible for the executive management of these functions.   

    To complement its primary functions under the PGPA Rule, the Audit and Risk Committee: 

    • makes recommendations to the Board on the appointment, assessment and removal of Housing Australia’s internal auditors, and oversees their independence
    • reviews and approves Housing Australia’s external and internal audit fees, plans and their scope
    • provides an effective forum for communication between Housing Australia’s Board, management and internal and external auditors.

    Asset and Liability Committee 

    The Asset and Liability Committee is a management committee with the following objectives:

    • to oversee the management of Housing Australia’s assets and liabilities
    • to evaluate and monitor the risks and controls for financial risk (excluding credit risk managed via Credit Committee)
    • to make recommendations on how financial risks should be managed within risk appetite balancing the associated costs, risks and benefits
    • to review and recommend Financial Risk Policies and Procedures. 

    Credit Committee

    A key function of Housing Australia is to provide finance to proponents eligible under Housing Australia’s Investment Mandate.  The Credit Committee is an advisory committee that has been established to assist the Board with objective oversight and management of credit risk arising from this key function.

    Executive Risk and Compliance Committee

    The Executive Risk and Compliance Committee acts as a forum for the discussion of significant risks and issues.

    The committee reports to the Accountable Authority and the Housing Australia Board Audit and Risk Committee, and is responsible for:

    • identifying and monitoring significant risks to Housing Australia
    • maintaining and promoting Housing Australia’s risk management frameworks and policies
    • managing risks in line with those frameworks and policies
    • implementing and overseeing control processes and risk mitigation strategies. 

    Customer Service Charter

    At Housing Australia we always aim to deliver high quality service, open and honest communication and we respect the confidentiality of the information provided to us.

    In delivering high quality service, we will:

    • invest time to fully understand your business and its needs
    • use our industry knowledge and financing expertise to offer timely and tailored responses
    • act with professionalism and integrity.

    Sustainability Management Committee

    The Sustainability Management Committee is responsible for advising on sustainability and environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters for Housing Australia, including:  

    • overseeing Housing Australia’s sustainability function and implementation approach, including the Sustainability Strategy and any mandatory ESG disclosures and reporting
    • administering and reviewing Housing Australia’s Sustainability Bond Framework (Framework), including: 
      • evaluating and selecting eligible assets for inclusion in new social, green and sustainability bond issuances and ensuring these assets are aligned to the Framework
      • reviewing and advising on Housing Australia’s (ESG) disclosures and impact reporting (financial risk of bond issuance is overseen by ALCO)
    • overseeing and advising on Housing Australia’s ESG assurance activities related to Housing Australia’s bond issuance program.