❓ Dr. Honey questions the Minister for Housing about a change in development rules for R30-R40 zones and stakeholder feedback. The Minister deflects, accuses the opposition of hindering housing supply, and defends the decision based on industry advice and market conditions.
AnsweredQoN 568Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HOUSING — MEDIUM
DENSITY — R30 TO R40 ZONES
568. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Minister for Housing:
I refer the minister to an article
in the Claremont Post dated 19 August 2023 that reported on the
government's sudden last-minute change of position on new development
rules that were due to apply to R30 to R40 zonings, described as the most
commonly used zonings for development.
(1) Who were the stakeholders whose
feedback the minister listened to, as reported in the article?
(2) What happened
to Labor's talk of development that takes account of social needs for
amenity, trees, space and heritage?
DENSITY — R30 TO R40 ZONES
568. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Minister for Housing:
I refer the minister to an article
in the Claremont Post dated 19 August 2023 that reported on the
government's sudden last-minute change of position on new development
rules that were due to apply to R30 to R40 zonings, described as the most
commonly used zonings for development.
(1) Who were the stakeholders whose
feedback the minister listened to, as reported in the article?
(2) What happened
to Labor's talk of development that takes account of social needs for
amenity, trees, space and heritage?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for his question.
(1)–(2) Just to clarify, did
the member support my decision?
Dr D.J. Honey : I think you've
bailed on supporting amenity since you've been in this Parliament.
Mr J.N. CAREY : From that I assume he does not support
my position.
Dr D.J. Honey : Answer the
question.
Mr J.N. CAREY : No. For the
public record, I think it is really important —
Dr D.J. Honey : Answer the
question. It's my job to ask and your job to answer.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please,
members. Minister, the member for Cottesloe has made it quite clear that he
does not intend to respond. I ask you to continue with your answer.
Mr J.N. CAREY : I will say
this: I think the implication from that question is that he does not support my
decision. I want to be very clear that across Australia we face extraordinary
circumstances. Those circumstances in relation to housing mean that we face a very
changing situation. We know that there have been dramatic changes in the
builders' market. Only
recently, CoreLogic Australia provided key statistics that showed that builders
in the housing market have seen their margins drop to less than five per
cent. I take that seriously. I have watched the market and I have engaged the housing and industry sector, and the advice was
very clear to me: proceeding with the medium density codes, given the current financial market that we face, would
have an impact on housing supply and the cost of housing supply. I take that
very seriously. My job and my resolute focus is to boost housing supply in Western
Australia. At every opportunity in
this chamber, I demonstrate the long list of reforms that we are doing and are
driving to boost housing supply.
Dr D.J. Honey interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please.
Mr J.N. CAREY : It is
absolutely critical that we use every lever possible to boost housing supply in Western Australia. Every state is grappling
with this. National cabinet has made it a main agenda item. I will c onsider
every policy decision within that very clear focus.
I listen to industry, including the
Housing Industry Association, the Urban Development Institute of Australia and
the Perth division of the Property Council of Australia, and people who are
actually delivering the housing—small and medium builders in the
housing market. What is very clear to me is that on this side, we are focused
on housing supply; on that side, it is about more red tape for planning.
Members opposite have made it very clear that big housing projects will face
more red tape. They were the member for Cottesloe's comments in the local
paper about abolishing a significant
pathway. At the next election, I will be very happy to take to the people of Western
Australia a clear agenda that is delivering affordable and social
housing, in contrast to an opposition that has no policies on housing except to
wind it up in red tape.
(1)–(2) Just to clarify, did
the member support my decision?
Dr D.J. Honey : I think you've
bailed on supporting amenity since you've been in this Parliament.
Mr J.N. CAREY : From that I assume he does not support
my position.
Dr D.J. Honey : Answer the
question.
Mr J.N. CAREY : No. For the
public record, I think it is really important —
Dr D.J. Honey : Answer the
question. It's my job to ask and your job to answer.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please,
members. Minister, the member for Cottesloe has made it quite clear that he
does not intend to respond. I ask you to continue with your answer.
Mr J.N. CAREY : I will say
this: I think the implication from that question is that he does not support my
decision. I want to be very clear that across Australia we face extraordinary
circumstances. Those circumstances in relation to housing mean that we face a very
changing situation. We know that there have been dramatic changes in the
builders' market. Only
recently, CoreLogic Australia provided key statistics that showed that builders
in the housing market have seen their margins drop to less than five per
cent. I take that seriously. I have watched the market and I have engaged the housing and industry sector, and the advice was
very clear to me: proceeding with the medium density codes, given the current financial market that we face, would
have an impact on housing supply and the cost of housing supply. I take that
very seriously. My job and my resolute focus is to boost housing supply in Western
Australia. At every opportunity in
this chamber, I demonstrate the long list of reforms that we are doing and are
driving to boost housing supply.
Dr D.J. Honey interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please.
Mr J.N. CAREY : It is
absolutely critical that we use every lever possible to boost housing supply in Western Australia. Every state is grappling
with this. National cabinet has made it a main agenda item. I will c onsider
every policy decision within that very clear focus.
I listen to industry, including the
Housing Industry Association, the Urban Development Institute of Australia and
the Perth division of the Property Council of Australia, and people who are
actually delivering the housing—small and medium builders in the
housing market. What is very clear to me is that on this side, we are focused
on housing supply; on that side, it is about more red tape for planning.
Members opposite have made it very clear that big housing projects will face
more red tape. They were the member for Cottesloe's comments in the local
paper about abolishing a significant
pathway. At the next election, I will be very happy to take to the people of Western
Australia a clear agenda that is delivering affordable and social
housing, in contrast to an opposition that has no policies on housing except to
wind it up in red tape.
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