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❓ Question seeks details on the Housing Supply Unit's mandate, focus, metrics, and consultation processes, particularly regarding affordable housing, homelessness strategies, innovative construction, and stakeholder engagement. The answer provides a broad overview of the Unit's goals and collaborative approach.

AnsweredQoN 1730Legislative Council

Asked

19 October 2023

Member

Hon Dr Brad Pettitt

Portfolio

Treasurer

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to the creation of a new Housing Supply Unit within the Department of Treasury, announced on 17 October 2023, and I ask: (a) will the unit be mandated to explore all areas of housing supply across the housing continuum; (b) what will the focus of the new Housing Supply Unit be, and will it include increasing social and affordable rental housing stock: (i) if not, how will the new Housing Supply Unit ensure that new housing supply meets the needs of essential workers and people on low to moderate incomes; (c) what metrics will the Unit use to measure success, including metrics to monitor increasing to housing supply and social and affordable housing; (d) will the Unit be tasked with implementing effective tools to measure housing need and ensuring WA is building to address that need; (e) how will the work of the Housing Supply Unit be tied to outcomes in key Government strategies, including All Paths Lead to Home: WA’s 10 Year Strategy on Homelessness, as well as the National Agreement on Closing the Gap; (f) in light of the current limitations within the construction industry, will the Housing Supply Unit be exploring innovative construction and housing models, such as prefabricated housing, conversion of existing properties, ancillary dwellings and/or Tiny Homes; (g) the Government’s media release mentions consultation with the residential building industry and property development sector, as key government stakeholders will the community housing and homelessness sectors, and First Nations representative bodies also be consulted; (h) will the Unit explore the introduction of policies such as mandatory inclusionary zoning to increase social and affordable rental housing stock as part of its work; and (i) the media release mentions investment from the Federal Government through the HAFF, is there an expectation that there will also be additional investment from the State Government?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered

28 November 2023

Responded by

Minister for Emergency Services representing the Treasurer

Response time

7 days

(a)-(i) The Housing Supply Unit will work across Government and with industry on policies to boost housing supply, affordability, and expand workforce capacity across Western Australia.
This will include regular consultation with the residential building industry and the property development sector, to identify specific barriers to increasing supply, as well as community stakeholders.
The Housing Supply Unit will work with responsible Government agencies and Government Trading Enterprises to ensure delivery of the Government’s commitments.

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