❓ Question addresses government actions on land release for housing affordability, with the Minister responding by criticising the opposition's claims and highlighting improved approval processing times, while also attributing decreased applications to external factors like finance and demand.
AnsweredQoN 599Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PLANNING APPROVALS
599. Mr J. NORBERGER to the
Minister for Planning:
I have noticed some commentary from the opposition this week
about planning approvals and housing affordability. Can the minister provide
the house with an update on actions the government has taken to proactively
manage the release of land onto the market?
599. Mr J. NORBERGER to the
Minister for Planning:
I have noticed some commentary from the opposition this week
about planning approvals and housing affordability. Can the minister provide
the house with an update on actions the government has taken to proactively
manage the release of land onto the market?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
Indeed, some comments were made
yesterday by the member for West Swan on behalf of the opposition. I give the
opposition credit for one thing—that is, for being very consistent on
this issue. It has consistently misrepresented the true picture for at least
three, and probably four, years going back to when the Leader of the Opposition
had responsibility for the planning portfolio in opposition. The opposition has
also consistently ensured that the facts do not get in the way of a good story
as it sees it. But the opposition does not understand that not many people are
listening to it because it is not actually —
Mr B.S. Wyatt : You
seem to be, though. You better sit down then if no-one is listening.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr J.H.D. DAY :
This is an education —
Mr B.S. Wyatt : Sit
down.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Victoria Park!
Ms
R. Saffioti : My mum disagreed with me too.
The
SPEAKER : Member for West Swan!
Mr
J.H.D. DAY : The opposition needs to understand that, in part, Parliament is
about educating members of Parliament, including members of the opposition.
After I explain it carefully, they may understand what has happened. The
opposition, quite rightly, has stated that the number of subdivision approvals
per year in the last four years or so has been fewer than it was in 2006–07.
That is correct. But the opposition has incorrectly said that that is due to
this government's lack of action or, as I think the member for West
Swan said yesterday along with a range of other spurious comments, that the
government is sitting on its hands. The actual reason is that fewer
applications for subdivision have been made.
Mr
T.R. Buswell interjected.
Mr
J.H.D. DAY : As the Treasurer said, the opposition is effectively suggesting
that we should grant approvals before people apply for approval. That is a
novel concept but one that is fairly difficult to undertake in government.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for West Swan!
Mr W.J. Johnston :
It's bad when Buswell says it; good when she says it!
The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, have you finished?
Mr
J.H.D. DAY : In 2006–07, 41 649 applications were made for
subdivision approvals. In 2011–12, 27 052 applications for approval
were made.
Mr
W.J. Johnston interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I call you to order for the first time.
Minister, can you bring this to a speedy conclusion, please?
Mr
J.H.D. DAY : Thank you, Mr Speaker. There is a lot to this story and I will
save some for a later time, but I will point out, for example, that the
Department of Planning's performance on subdivision approvals has
improved substantially since 2007–08.
Ms
R. Saffioti interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I call you to order
for the first time.
Mr
J.H.D. DAY : In 2007–08, 57 per cent of subdivision applications
were processed within the 90-day statutory time frame. After that point people
can lodge an appeal with the State Administrative Tribunal if they do not have
approval. In the days of the former government it was 57 per cent. That rate is
now 86 per cent.
Ms
R. Saffioti interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for West Swan!
Mr
M. McGowan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition!
Mr
J.H.D. DAY : That is a substantial decrease in the average time taken for
approval of subdivision applications. The number of applications has fallen due
to developers having greater difficulty getting finance, less demand from
people buying land and the global financial crisis.
Ms R. Saffioti :
Minister, you are wrong.
The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I call to you order
for the second time.
Mr J.H.D. DAY :
However, in recent times the number of approvals has increased substantially
because the number of applications has increased. For the quarter ending June
this year, 3 959 final residential approvals were given for the Perth
metropolitan area. That compares with 12 months ago—the quarter ending June
2012—when the number was only 2 322. Clearly, the demand has picked up;
therefore, the number of approvals has picked up, so, over the next 12 months,
I am sure we will see the continuation of a higher rate of approvals because
there are more applications. That is the actual picture. I hope the opposition
now understands the reality.
Indeed, some comments were made
yesterday by the member for West Swan on behalf of the opposition. I give the
opposition credit for one thing—that is, for being very consistent on
this issue. It has consistently misrepresented the true picture for at least
three, and probably four, years going back to when the Leader of the Opposition
had responsibility for the planning portfolio in opposition. The opposition has
also consistently ensured that the facts do not get in the way of a good story
as it sees it. But the opposition does not understand that not many people are
listening to it because it is not actually —
Mr B.S. Wyatt : You
seem to be, though. You better sit down then if no-one is listening.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr J.H.D. DAY :
This is an education —
Mr B.S. Wyatt : Sit
down.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Victoria Park!
Ms
R. Saffioti : My mum disagreed with me too.
The
SPEAKER : Member for West Swan!
Mr
J.H.D. DAY : The opposition needs to understand that, in part, Parliament is
about educating members of Parliament, including members of the opposition.
After I explain it carefully, they may understand what has happened. The
opposition, quite rightly, has stated that the number of subdivision approvals
per year in the last four years or so has been fewer than it was in 2006–07.
That is correct. But the opposition has incorrectly said that that is due to
this government's lack of action or, as I think the member for West
Swan said yesterday along with a range of other spurious comments, that the
government is sitting on its hands. The actual reason is that fewer
applications for subdivision have been made.
Mr
T.R. Buswell interjected.
Mr
J.H.D. DAY : As the Treasurer said, the opposition is effectively suggesting
that we should grant approvals before people apply for approval. That is a
novel concept but one that is fairly difficult to undertake in government.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for West Swan!
Mr W.J. Johnston :
It's bad when Buswell says it; good when she says it!
The SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, have you finished?
Mr
J.H.D. DAY : In 2006–07, 41 649 applications were made for
subdivision approvals. In 2011–12, 27 052 applications for approval
were made.
Mr
W.J. Johnston interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I call you to order for the first time.
Minister, can you bring this to a speedy conclusion, please?
Mr
J.H.D. DAY : Thank you, Mr Speaker. There is a lot to this story and I will
save some for a later time, but I will point out, for example, that the
Department of Planning's performance on subdivision approvals has
improved substantially since 2007–08.
Ms
R. Saffioti interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I call you to order
for the first time.
Mr
J.H.D. DAY : In 2007–08, 57 per cent of subdivision applications
were processed within the 90-day statutory time frame. After that point people
can lodge an appeal with the State Administrative Tribunal if they do not have
approval. In the days of the former government it was 57 per cent. That rate is
now 86 per cent.
Ms
R. Saffioti interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for West Swan!
Mr
M. McGowan interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition!
Mr
J.H.D. DAY : That is a substantial decrease in the average time taken for
approval of subdivision applications. The number of applications has fallen due
to developers having greater difficulty getting finance, less demand from
people buying land and the global financial crisis.
Ms R. Saffioti :
Minister, you are wrong.
The SPEAKER : Member for West Swan, I call to you order
for the second time.
Mr J.H.D. DAY :
However, in recent times the number of approvals has increased substantially
because the number of applications has increased. For the quarter ending June
this year, 3 959 final residential approvals were given for the Perth
metropolitan area. That compares with 12 months ago—the quarter ending June
2012—when the number was only 2 322. Clearly, the demand has picked up;
therefore, the number of approvals has picked up, so, over the next 12 months,
I am sure we will see the continuation of a higher rate of approvals because
there are more applications. That is the actual picture. I hope the opposition
now understands the reality.
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