❓ Question seeks information on planning reforms' impact on economic development and housing, and awareness of opposition. Answer highlights government's reform efforts, criticizes the WA Liberals' stance, and emphasizes commitment to increasing housing supply.
AnsweredQoN 361Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Housing—Planning reform
361. Dr Jags Krishnan to
the Minister for Planning and Lands:
I refer to the
recently announced review of planning instruments and the Cook Labor government's
commitment to cutting red tape.
(1) Can the minister inform the house how these
reforms are accelerating economic development and delivering more homes for Western
Australians?
(2) Is the minister aware of anyone who does not
support these reforms?
361. Dr Jags Krishnan to
the Minister for Planning and Lands:
I refer to the
recently announced review of planning instruments and the Cook Labor government's
commitment to cutting red tape.
(1) Can the minister inform the house how these
reforms are accelerating economic development and delivering more homes for Western
Australians?
(2) Is the minister aware of anyone who does not
support these reforms?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I thank the member for his
question. As members know, our state government has been leading the nation in
terms of driving planning reform and cutting red tape. It is as relevant as
ever, particularly given the productivity roundtable discussion that is
happening in Canberra this week, where housing supply continues to be a
critical focus and builds on the work of the National Cabinet's commitment to
driving planning reforms. I note the Business Council of Australia only on the
weekend in the lead-up to the round table said it was critical to continue to
cut red tape to speed up the delivery of housing. As a government, that is what
we have been doing through extraordinary planning reform to streamline housing
approvals from single homes to critical medium to high-density projects.
Right
now, we have put out another set of regulations for consultation to provide greater
consistency and standardisation when it comes to local planning policies,
which are instruments used by local governments to help set and guide
residential development. We are not stopping here. We are pursuing and driving
reform because, ultimately, we understand that there is not a moment in time
that we say, "We're done". We understand that we need to accelerate
housing supply and we must persist with reform.
Across the country, Liberal and Labor—both
sides of politics—are embracing a reform agenda. Look to the Northern
Territory, look to Tasmania, look to Queensland. They have Liberal governments,
except we have one Liberal Party in one state that is not embracing the reform
agenda. We have heard a lot. Never have I seen the Liberal Party or its politicians
embrace policy positions that say, "I support the status quo". I
mean, it is a little bit bizarre when you think about it. The member for
Cottesloe's comment was, "I support Basil's view that we accept the status
quo". What an incredible policy position to take. I think we should do
that all the time. We know that they do not support the status quo when it
comes to planning. In fact, they want to add red tape and make it harder. Of
course, before the election they said different things, like the member for
Carine who loves doing his TikToks that say, "We will cut red tape so
housing is more affordable". But they are not, and let us go through it.
We have, in fact, the member for
Kalamunda saying we should do third-party appeals, which would create blocks in
the system. We have the member for Carine who campaigns, or is in shock-horror,
about R60 in his community, which would enable medium-density development, not
even high-density development. We have the leader of the Liberals, who goes to a
Western Australian Planning Commission meeting and accuses and attacks the WAPC
regarding its decision-making and integrity. We have Hon Neil Thomson, who is
now actively suggesting to change the make-up of development assessment panels so
that they are three–three, which will mean so many more decisions will
be knocked back, will be dead or will be perhaps referred off to the State
Administrative Tribunal.
This is the reality of the WA
Liberals. Every state, regardless of its political persuasion, understands the
need to drive reform, yet we have one political party, the WA Liberals, that is
set on the past and wants to make it harder for small builders and family
businesses to build and create housing. There is a clear divide. That side does
not even talk about housing anymore. It is a vacuum. There is no policy. On
this side, we see constant reform to drive and accelerate the delivery of
housing in Western Australia.
question. As members know, our state government has been leading the nation in
terms of driving planning reform and cutting red tape. It is as relevant as
ever, particularly given the productivity roundtable discussion that is
happening in Canberra this week, where housing supply continues to be a
critical focus and builds on the work of the National Cabinet's commitment to
driving planning reforms. I note the Business Council of Australia only on the
weekend in the lead-up to the round table said it was critical to continue to
cut red tape to speed up the delivery of housing. As a government, that is what
we have been doing through extraordinary planning reform to streamline housing
approvals from single homes to critical medium to high-density projects.
Right
now, we have put out another set of regulations for consultation to provide greater
consistency and standardisation when it comes to local planning policies,
which are instruments used by local governments to help set and guide
residential development. We are not stopping here. We are pursuing and driving
reform because, ultimately, we understand that there is not a moment in time
that we say, "We're done". We understand that we need to accelerate
housing supply and we must persist with reform.
Across the country, Liberal and Labor—both
sides of politics—are embracing a reform agenda. Look to the Northern
Territory, look to Tasmania, look to Queensland. They have Liberal governments,
except we have one Liberal Party in one state that is not embracing the reform
agenda. We have heard a lot. Never have I seen the Liberal Party or its politicians
embrace policy positions that say, "I support the status quo". I
mean, it is a little bit bizarre when you think about it. The member for
Cottesloe's comment was, "I support Basil's view that we accept the status
quo". What an incredible policy position to take. I think we should do
that all the time. We know that they do not support the status quo when it
comes to planning. In fact, they want to add red tape and make it harder. Of
course, before the election they said different things, like the member for
Carine who loves doing his TikToks that say, "We will cut red tape so
housing is more affordable". But they are not, and let us go through it.
We have, in fact, the member for
Kalamunda saying we should do third-party appeals, which would create blocks in
the system. We have the member for Carine who campaigns, or is in shock-horror,
about R60 in his community, which would enable medium-density development, not
even high-density development. We have the leader of the Liberals, who goes to a
Western Australian Planning Commission meeting and accuses and attacks the WAPC
regarding its decision-making and integrity. We have Hon Neil Thomson, who is
now actively suggesting to change the make-up of development assessment panels so
that they are three–three, which will mean so many more decisions will
be knocked back, will be dead or will be perhaps referred off to the State
Administrative Tribunal.
This is the reality of the WA
Liberals. Every state, regardless of its political persuasion, understands the
need to drive reform, yet we have one political party, the WA Liberals, that is
set on the past and wants to make it harder for small builders and family
businesses to build and create housing. There is a clear divide. That side does
not even talk about housing anymore. It is a vacuum. There is no policy. On
this side, we see constant reform to drive and accelerate the delivery of
housing in Western Australia.
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