Federal Government lets housing affordability inquiry lapse

The Federal Government has let its housing affordability inquiry lapse.

News of the quashed inquiry emerged through Fairfax Media's commentator Peter Martin as Treasurer Scott Morrison delivered a speech in which he declared housing affordability to be an "important policy focus" of the Turnbull government in the new parliamentary term.

The inquiry was initiated by Morrison's predecessor, Joe Hockey early last year to be undertaken by the House of Representatives economics committee and chaired by Liberal backbencher John Alexander.

Alexander was replaced as chairman by Liberal MP Craig Laundy after hearings concluded in September last year.

Mr Laundy has told Fairfax Media he had worked on a draft report with the committee secretariat.

But he wasn't able to put it to the committee before he was promoted to the ministry and replaced with backbencher David Coleman shortly before the July election.

Under the rules governing committees, the inquiry lapsed with the election, meaning Mr Coleman is unable to conclude the report without a fresh referral from the Treasurer.