❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding public housing waitlists from 2005-2025. The answer provides data from 2009-10 onwards, citing data limitations and attributing high waitlist numbers to a previous government. Includes a regional breakdown of priority waitlists from 2020-2025.
AnsweredQoN 949Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the public housing waitlist, and I ask: (a) What was the greatest total number of applicants on the waitlist each year for the years 2005 to 2025: (i) For each of these totals, what was the total number of people represented by these applications; and (ii) For each listed year (2005-2025), how many children and dependents were represented by these applications; and (b) What was the greatest total number of applicants deemed as 'priority' each year for the years 2005 to 2025: (i) For priority waitlist numbers between 2020 and 2025, please provide a breakdown of need by region?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
2 December 2025
Responded by
Minister for Housing and Works
Response time
8 days
Data to determine the greatest total number of applications at any given time is not available as reporting data is captured at the end of each month. Wait list numbers fluctuate for a range of reasons, including applications received, housed or withdrawn, and the Department of Housing and Works is unable to categorically state the greatest total number of applications at any given day for the requested date ranges.
The earliest available static data held by the Department of Housing and Works is from 2009-10 onwards, therefore the number of wait-turn and priority waitlist applicants has been provided from 2009-10 as at 30 June for each year.
Notably, the wait-turn list was at its highest under the former Liberal-National Government, despite having around a quarter less of the population.
a. 2009-10: 24,136; 2010-11: 23,411; 2011-12: 22,871; 2012-13: 21,121; 2013-14: 20,013; 2014-15: 20,127; 2015-16: 18,530; 2016-17: 16,516; 2017-18: 13,912; 2018-19: 13,795; 2019-20: 14,409; 2020-21: 17,194; 2021-22: 19,070; 2022-23: 19,062; 2023-24: 20,264; 2024-25: 22,377
(i-ii) Please refer to Legislative Council question without notice 714
b. 2009-10: 3,577; 2010-11: 3,251; 2011-12: 3,174; 2012-13: 2,961; 2013-14: 2,889; 2014-15: 2,770; 2015-16: 2,283; 2016-17: 1,590; 2017-18:1,437; 2018-19: 1,575; 2019-20: 1,944; 2020-21: 3,354; 2021-22: 4,141; 2022-23: 4,770; 2023-24: 5,679; 2024-25: 7,378
i. 30 June 2020: North Metro – 748, South Metro – 395, East Metro – 235, Great Southern – 86, Southwest – 61, Goldfields – 60, Midwest/Gascoyne – 46, Pilbara – 122, West Kimberley – 88, Wheatbelt – 30, East Kimberley – 73 30 June 2021: North Metro – 1,198, South Metro – 741, East Metro – 537, Great Southern – 120, Southwest – 98, Goldfields – 65, Midwest/Gascoyne – 125, Pilbara – 188, West Kimberley – 113, Wheatbelt – 49, East Kimberley – 120
30 June 2022: North Metro – 1,313, South Metro – 895, East Metro – 663, Great Southern – 174, Southwest – 172, Goldfields – 102, Midwest/Gascoyne – 191, Pilbara – 258, West Kimberley – 155, Wheatbelt – 88, East Kimberley – 130
30 June 2023: North Metro – 1,463, South Metro – 1,011, East Metro – 875, Great Southern – 195, Southwest – 249, Goldfields – 126, Midwest/Gascoyne – 184, Pilbara – 221, West Kimberley – 187, Wheatbelt – 133, East Kimberley – 126
30 June 2024: North Metro – 1,751, South Metro – 1,279, East Metro – 1,039, Great Southern – 213, Southwest – 278, Goldfields – 188, Midwest/Gascoyne – 224, Pilbara – 230, West Kimberley – 188, Wheatbelt – 148, East Kimberley – 141
30 June 2025: North Metro – 2,299, South Metro – 1,702, East Metro – 1,321, Great Southern – 248, Southwest – 374, Goldfields – 239, Midwest/Gascoyne – 374, Pilbara – 320, West Kimberley – 208, Wheatbelt – 152, East Kimberley – 141
The earliest available static data held by the Department of Housing and Works is from 2009-10 onwards, therefore the number of wait-turn and priority waitlist applicants has been provided from 2009-10 as at 30 June for each year.
Notably, the wait-turn list was at its highest under the former Liberal-National Government, despite having around a quarter less of the population.
a. 2009-10: 24,136; 2010-11: 23,411; 2011-12: 22,871; 2012-13: 21,121; 2013-14: 20,013; 2014-15: 20,127; 2015-16: 18,530; 2016-17: 16,516; 2017-18: 13,912; 2018-19: 13,795; 2019-20: 14,409; 2020-21: 17,194; 2021-22: 19,070; 2022-23: 19,062; 2023-24: 20,264; 2024-25: 22,377
(i-ii) Please refer to Legislative Council question without notice 714
b. 2009-10: 3,577; 2010-11: 3,251; 2011-12: 3,174; 2012-13: 2,961; 2013-14: 2,889; 2014-15: 2,770; 2015-16: 2,283; 2016-17: 1,590; 2017-18:1,437; 2018-19: 1,575; 2019-20: 1,944; 2020-21: 3,354; 2021-22: 4,141; 2022-23: 4,770; 2023-24: 5,679; 2024-25: 7,378
i. 30 June 2020: North Metro – 748, South Metro – 395, East Metro – 235, Great Southern – 86, Southwest – 61, Goldfields – 60, Midwest/Gascoyne – 46, Pilbara – 122, West Kimberley – 88, Wheatbelt – 30, East Kimberley – 73 30 June 2021: North Metro – 1,198, South Metro – 741, East Metro – 537, Great Southern – 120, Southwest – 98, Goldfields – 65, Midwest/Gascoyne – 125, Pilbara – 188, West Kimberley – 113, Wheatbelt – 49, East Kimberley – 120
30 June 2022: North Metro – 1,313, South Metro – 895, East Metro – 663, Great Southern – 174, Southwest – 172, Goldfields – 102, Midwest/Gascoyne – 191, Pilbara – 258, West Kimberley – 155, Wheatbelt – 88, East Kimberley – 130
30 June 2023: North Metro – 1,463, South Metro – 1,011, East Metro – 875, Great Southern – 195, Southwest – 249, Goldfields – 126, Midwest/Gascoyne – 184, Pilbara – 221, West Kimberley – 187, Wheatbelt – 133, East Kimberley – 126
30 June 2024: North Metro – 1,751, South Metro – 1,279, East Metro – 1,039, Great Southern – 213, Southwest – 278, Goldfields – 188, Midwest/Gascoyne – 224, Pilbara – 230, West Kimberley – 188, Wheatbelt – 148, East Kimberley – 141
30 June 2025: North Metro – 2,299, South Metro – 1,702, East Metro – 1,321, Great Southern – 248, Southwest – 374, Goldfields – 239, Midwest/Gascoyne – 374, Pilbara – 320, West Kimberley – 208, Wheatbelt – 152, East Kimberley – 141
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