❓ The Minister for Planning responds to a question regarding the government's infill housing initiatives, highlighting investments, planning reforms, and criticising the opposition's stance on these reforms, particularly referencing the Liberal candidate for Cottesloe's changing views.
AnsweredQoN 763Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HOUSING SUPPLY — INFILL
763. Mr T.J. HEALY to the Minister for Planning:
I refer to the Cook Labor
government's commitment to increasing housing supply in Western Australia.
(1) Can the
minister advise the house how measures being delivered by this government are
supporting the delivery of infill?
(2) Can the minister advise the
house whether he is aware of anyone who opposes these efforts?
763. Mr T.J. HEALY to the Minister for Planning:
I refer to the Cook Labor
government's commitment to increasing housing supply in Western Australia.
(1) Can the
minister advise the house how measures being delivered by this government are
supporting the delivery of infill?
(2) Can the minister advise the
house whether he is aware of anyone who opposes these efforts?
AnswerView source ↗
(1) I thank the
member for his question and his commitment to delivering more affordable
housing and rentals in Western Australia. As we have heard from the Premier and
the Deputy Premier, this government has a laser focus on utilising every
measure it can to boost housing supply across the continuum. What we know is
this: every additional home is critical because every additional home provides
a safe haven; resets someone's life;
enables education, training and further opportunities; and enables families to
come together . We understand the importance of every additional home.
The state government has made a record investment
of $3.2 billion since 2021 to deliver 5 000 social homes, with more than 2 500
homes delivered and another 1 000 already under contract or
construction. As we have heard, we have expanded the way that we do that. We
have moved beyond double brick, which accounts for the timeframes to which the
opposition has referred. We have done prefab and modular homes and small homes
through Summit. We have helped to build and grow those industries by creating
new procurement processes and panels. Of course, we understand that the holding
costs can make or break a project. We have seen projects fall away,
particularly in medium to high density, when there is no streamlined system and
cost hold-ups affect a project. That is why our government has now done three
tranches of planning reform, which has created the best planning system in the
country. This reform has been recognised by the Housing Industry Association,
the Urban Development Institute of Australia, the Property Council and the
Master Builders Association. It means that
when there is a poor performing local government, there is a choice. Proponents can work with good performing local governments—this happens in some
regional communities—to get housing developments across the line.
(2) As has been
said by the Deputy Premier, we note that right now, across a number of
electorates, Liberal candidates who have been endorsed by the Liberal leader
and Hon Steve Martin are saying that they will reverse our planning changes. In
effect, that will mean that because poor performing local governments hold up
structure plans and planning policies, housing development will stop in its
tracks. The latest Liberal candidate to do that is the Liberal candidate for
Cottesloe. It breaks my heart, because last October the Liberal candidate for
Cottesloe stood right next to me. In fact, if you see the vision, there is me
and there is the Liberal candidate for Cottesloe! At the time, she said that
our planning reforms were robust, strong and resolute. She also stated —
''Streamlining the approval
process and optimising the allocation of planning resources will lead to
quicker decisions and improved transparency.''
Note her use of the word ''transparency''.
The Liberal candidate also said —
''Every home builder will
benefit from these reforms—whether they be small, medium or large.
She was clear and resolute about the
impact of our reforms. What I find fascinating is that the Liberal candidate
for Cottesloe has discovered Instagram and she is pumping out some great tunes
and funky material as she visits cafes. I applaud all of that; I do that as
well! However, she did an Instagram story about—oh, no; shock horror!—a
housing development in the middle of Cottesloe close to the train station.
Members should remember what she said in October last year. She said that
another high-rise proposal in our suburbs demonstrates what is wrong with our
planning and development system, and that Labor is letting developers lead the process. Never have I seen someone, within
such a short amount of time, dispense with everything they believe in.
Welcome to the Liberal Party!
What is more, she made a mistake.
What she did not say was that back in 2015, due to problems with local governments not updating their structure
plans and policies, the former Liberal–National government allowed proponents to come forth with new structure plans and proposals. Her
criticism of a proposal in Cottesloe is a direct
criticism of a Liberal state government policy. I mean, you cannot make this
stuff up ! At every opportunity, we see Liberal candidates opposing
housing developments. They are consistent and resolute, and it is no wonder,
because the Leader of the Liberal Party called for a downzoning of existing
properties from six storeys to three storeys, which would also kill housing
development in Dunsborough. It is very clear that they say different things
according to different audiences. They go to their NIMBY groups and say, ''We're
going to kill and destroy it'', but they announce on the weekend money
for developers and pretend that they are their best mates!
member for his question and his commitment to delivering more affordable
housing and rentals in Western Australia. As we have heard from the Premier and
the Deputy Premier, this government has a laser focus on utilising every
measure it can to boost housing supply across the continuum. What we know is
this: every additional home is critical because every additional home provides
a safe haven; resets someone's life;
enables education, training and further opportunities; and enables families to
come together . We understand the importance of every additional home.
The state government has made a record investment
of $3.2 billion since 2021 to deliver 5 000 social homes, with more than 2 500
homes delivered and another 1 000 already under contract or
construction. As we have heard, we have expanded the way that we do that. We
have moved beyond double brick, which accounts for the timeframes to which the
opposition has referred. We have done prefab and modular homes and small homes
through Summit. We have helped to build and grow those industries by creating
new procurement processes and panels. Of course, we understand that the holding
costs can make or break a project. We have seen projects fall away,
particularly in medium to high density, when there is no streamlined system and
cost hold-ups affect a project. That is why our government has now done three
tranches of planning reform, which has created the best planning system in the
country. This reform has been recognised by the Housing Industry Association,
the Urban Development Institute of Australia, the Property Council and the
Master Builders Association. It means that
when there is a poor performing local government, there is a choice. Proponents can work with good performing local governments—this happens in some
regional communities—to get housing developments across the line.
(2) As has been
said by the Deputy Premier, we note that right now, across a number of
electorates, Liberal candidates who have been endorsed by the Liberal leader
and Hon Steve Martin are saying that they will reverse our planning changes. In
effect, that will mean that because poor performing local governments hold up
structure plans and planning policies, housing development will stop in its
tracks. The latest Liberal candidate to do that is the Liberal candidate for
Cottesloe. It breaks my heart, because last October the Liberal candidate for
Cottesloe stood right next to me. In fact, if you see the vision, there is me
and there is the Liberal candidate for Cottesloe! At the time, she said that
our planning reforms were robust, strong and resolute. She also stated —
''Streamlining the approval
process and optimising the allocation of planning resources will lead to
quicker decisions and improved transparency.''
Note her use of the word ''transparency''.
The Liberal candidate also said —
''Every home builder will
benefit from these reforms—whether they be small, medium or large.
She was clear and resolute about the
impact of our reforms. What I find fascinating is that the Liberal candidate
for Cottesloe has discovered Instagram and she is pumping out some great tunes
and funky material as she visits cafes. I applaud all of that; I do that as
well! However, she did an Instagram story about—oh, no; shock horror!—a
housing development in the middle of Cottesloe close to the train station.
Members should remember what she said in October last year. She said that
another high-rise proposal in our suburbs demonstrates what is wrong with our
planning and development system, and that Labor is letting developers lead the process. Never have I seen someone, within
such a short amount of time, dispense with everything they believe in.
Welcome to the Liberal Party!
What is more, she made a mistake.
What she did not say was that back in 2015, due to problems with local governments not updating their structure
plans and policies, the former Liberal–National government allowed proponents to come forth with new structure plans and proposals. Her
criticism of a proposal in Cottesloe is a direct
criticism of a Liberal state government policy. I mean, you cannot make this
stuff up ! At every opportunity, we see Liberal candidates opposing
housing developments. They are consistent and resolute, and it is no wonder,
because the Leader of the Liberal Party called for a downzoning of existing
properties from six storeys to three storeys, which would also kill housing
development in Dunsborough. It is very clear that they say different things
according to different audiences. They go to their NIMBY groups and say, ''We're
going to kill and destroy it'', but they announce on the weekend money
for developers and pretend that they are their best mates!
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