The Albanese government has come under fire for spending approximately $13 million on consultants to tackle Australia's housing crisis, a move that contradicts its prior commitment to reduce reliance on external advisers. Documents reveal that Housing Australia allocated $12,884,942 to various consulting firms between June 2024 and February 2026, with significant amounts going to major companies such as Ernst & Young and Deloitte. Critics, including opposition housing spokesperson Andrew Bragg, argue that this spending demonstrates inefficiencies in Labor's housing strategy, which has reportedly resulted in fewer homes being built annually compared to the previous Coalition government. Despite the government's assertion that it is working to bring more functions in-house and reduce consultant use, recent data indicates that overall consulting expenditures remain high, nearing $1 billion in the last fiscal year. Furthermore, building approvals have declined, falling short of targets set by the National Housing Accord, raising questions about the effectiveness of current housing policies.