❓ The Premier responds to a question about the government's investment in cutting red tape and streamlining approvals processes to further drive WA's economy and create jobs, highlighting positive economic indicators and initiatives.
AnsweredQoN 336Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS — STATE ECONOMY
336. Mr H.T. JONES to the Premier:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's efforts to drive Western Australia's economic
recovery, which has delivered the strongest economy in the country and created
more jobs for Western Australians. Can the Premier update the house on how the
McGowan Labor government's unprecedented investment in cutting red tape
and streamlining the state's approvals process will help further drive
our economy and create more local jobs?
336. Mr H.T. JONES to the Premier:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's efforts to drive Western Australia's economic
recovery, which has delivered the strongest economy in the country and created
more jobs for Western Australians. Can the Premier update the house on how the
McGowan Labor government's unprecedented investment in cutting red tape
and streamlining the state's approvals process will help further drive
our economy and create more local jobs?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Darling Range
for the question. We are obviously working hard on our economy. We were the
first government in Australia to release an economic recovery plan out of COVID—over
a year ago now. The latest building
approvals figures, which came out yesterday, are further vindication of our
economic response. They showed that last financial year, approvals
increased by 88.7 per cent—the fastest rate of annual growth on record,
and the strongest growth in Australia. All up, there were 26 866 home building
approvals last financial year, the highest annual level in more than five
years. We have seen record growth in finance lending for home owners. Housing
finance commitments grew by 74.9 per cent, the fastest rate of annual growth on
record. Lending for the construction of new homes was up 151 per cent, the
fastest annual growth on record. Investors are returning to the market.
Obviously, our housing industry is going really well in terms of construction
all over Western Australia. The government wants to continue that.
We have billions of dollars of
capital projects in the approvals process. We want to make sure we can meet the demands for timely assessments and
approvals. That is why we are making the single biggest investment in approvals in Western Australian history. The state
budget will include $120 million to expand our red-tape reduction measures across government. This will mean an
additional 150 frontline officers across five agencies to help speed up
approvals processes. At the same time, we will maintain our strong
environmental protection measures. This is the single biggest investment in
approvals in the state's history. It builds on our track record of
cutting red tape; reforming planning, environment and liquor laws; and creating
Environment Online, the Biodiversity Information Office and Streamline WA. We
are doing all we can to ensure that we get speedier approvals in place in Western
Australia without dropping standards.
All of our efforts have meant that
more people from across Australia are choosing to move to WA. In the March
quarter, 1 600 people moved to Western Australia from the eastern states, the
largest gain in numbers in nine years. Obviously, people in the east are
recognising the strength of Western Australia, the strength of our economy and
the opportunity for employment here.
for the question. We are obviously working hard on our economy. We were the
first government in Australia to release an economic recovery plan out of COVID—over
a year ago now. The latest building
approvals figures, which came out yesterday, are further vindication of our
economic response. They showed that last financial year, approvals
increased by 88.7 per cent—the fastest rate of annual growth on record,
and the strongest growth in Australia. All up, there were 26 866 home building
approvals last financial year, the highest annual level in more than five
years. We have seen record growth in finance lending for home owners. Housing
finance commitments grew by 74.9 per cent, the fastest rate of annual growth on
record. Lending for the construction of new homes was up 151 per cent, the
fastest annual growth on record. Investors are returning to the market.
Obviously, our housing industry is going really well in terms of construction
all over Western Australia. The government wants to continue that.
We have billions of dollars of
capital projects in the approvals process. We want to make sure we can meet the demands for timely assessments and
approvals. That is why we are making the single biggest investment in approvals in Western Australian history. The state
budget will include $120 million to expand our red-tape reduction measures across government. This will mean an
additional 150 frontline officers across five agencies to help speed up
approvals processes. At the same time, we will maintain our strong
environmental protection measures. This is the single biggest investment in
approvals in the state's history. It builds on our track record of
cutting red tape; reforming planning, environment and liquor laws; and creating
Environment Online, the Biodiversity Information Office and Streamline WA. We
are doing all we can to ensure that we get speedier approvals in place in Western
Australia without dropping standards.
All of our efforts have meant that
more people from across Australia are choosing to move to WA. In the March
quarter, 1 600 people moved to Western Australia from the eastern states, the
largest gain in numbers in nine years. Obviously, people in the east are
recognising the strength of Western Australia, the strength of our economy and
the opportunity for employment here.
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