❓ Mr Pratt asks about the progress of the Cook Labor government's housing investment. The Minister responds positively, highlighting achievements and criticising the opposition's inquiry as detrimental to housing supply.
AnsweredQoN 414Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Social and affordable housing
414. Mr Stephen Pratt to
the Minister for Housing and Works:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's ongoing efforts to boost housing supply in Western Australia.
(1) Can the minister update the house on the
progress of this record investment?
(2) Is the minister aware of anyone who does not
support those efforts?
414. Mr Stephen Pratt to
the Minister for Housing and Works:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's ongoing efforts to boost housing supply in Western Australia.
(1) Can the minister update the house on the
progress of this record investment?
(2) Is the minister aware of anyone who does not
support those efforts?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) Thank you, member; and, yes, I
might be aware. As we know, currently, every state in the country is facing
extraordinary pressures in their housing and rental markets. I just say as a
side note that regardless of the colour of the state government—whether
it is Liberal or Labor—there is a general focus and consensus on
cutting red tape and accelerating the delivery of housing. I think I have made
it very clear that we have had a very laser focus on using every measure that
we can to bolster social and affordable housing, infill and density. We have
been getting momentum. A large array of medium to high-density projects are now
underway that will boost social and affordable housing. We have now reached
that magic figure of 3,500 social homes being delivered as a result of our $5.8
billion investment since 2021, with another thousand under contract and
construction. We got there because we have thought outside the box. We have created
new procurement processes that speed up using small and medium builders. We
have gone to using new construction methods—small homes, modular,
timber framed, so really diversifying how we deliver. We have also cut red tape
and accelerated and streamlined approvals. That is why WA has been leading the
nation in the broader housing market in terms of housing approvals, beating all
the other mainland states. I am really proud of the work that we have done.
Of course, the other side of
politics is moving in the other direction. The Libs and the Nationals WA have
joined forces with the Greens to call for an inquiry, led by the "Uncle
Arthur" of WA politics, Hon Neil Thomson, who is all over the place. We do
not know whether he is coming or going, telling different things to different
groups about the inquiry. But I will make this observation. It demonstrates
that the Leader of the Liberal Party is not in control because he is allowing Hon
Neil Thomson to do deals with the Greens on the inquiry while he is out there
spruiking in the regions about the need to cut red tape. Let us see what the
two credible industry groups are saying about that inquiry.
The first is the Property
Council of Western Australia, which said:
We cannot afford for the select
committee to become a mechanism for political point scoring and NIMBYism in our
parliament
The Urban Development Institute
of Australia (WA) goes much tougher to its members. According to my notes, Tanya
Steinbeck said:
What I am certain of, is that
the next 12 months will put a handbrake on housing supply as the bureaucracy is
distracted with voluminous requests for information. The Select Committee will
likely drip feed 'interim reports' to Parliament that will whip up density
debate and drive further mistrust in the community around the integrity of
planning decisions without any concept of, or context behind the commercial and
market realities of how development is actually delivered.
Two of the key bodies that are
responsible for advocating for the private sector and deliver the majority of
our housing development are saying that this inquiry is bad for Western Australia.
Yet the Leader of the Liberal Party ignores what industry is saying and says on
the one hand in the regions that we have got to cut red tape and green tape,
but on the other hand allows Hon Neil Thomson to do whatever he wants and call
an inquiry with the Greens that is ultimately about more red tape and stopping
housing supply in Western Australia.
might be aware. As we know, currently, every state in the country is facing
extraordinary pressures in their housing and rental markets. I just say as a
side note that regardless of the colour of the state government—whether
it is Liberal or Labor—there is a general focus and consensus on
cutting red tape and accelerating the delivery of housing. I think I have made
it very clear that we have had a very laser focus on using every measure that
we can to bolster social and affordable housing, infill and density. We have
been getting momentum. A large array of medium to high-density projects are now
underway that will boost social and affordable housing. We have now reached
that magic figure of 3,500 social homes being delivered as a result of our $5.8
billion investment since 2021, with another thousand under contract and
construction. We got there because we have thought outside the box. We have created
new procurement processes that speed up using small and medium builders. We
have gone to using new construction methods—small homes, modular,
timber framed, so really diversifying how we deliver. We have also cut red tape
and accelerated and streamlined approvals. That is why WA has been leading the
nation in the broader housing market in terms of housing approvals, beating all
the other mainland states. I am really proud of the work that we have done.
Of course, the other side of
politics is moving in the other direction. The Libs and the Nationals WA have
joined forces with the Greens to call for an inquiry, led by the "Uncle
Arthur" of WA politics, Hon Neil Thomson, who is all over the place. We do
not know whether he is coming or going, telling different things to different
groups about the inquiry. But I will make this observation. It demonstrates
that the Leader of the Liberal Party is not in control because he is allowing Hon
Neil Thomson to do deals with the Greens on the inquiry while he is out there
spruiking in the regions about the need to cut red tape. Let us see what the
two credible industry groups are saying about that inquiry.
The first is the Property
Council of Western Australia, which said:
We cannot afford for the select
committee to become a mechanism for political point scoring and NIMBYism in our
parliament
The Urban Development Institute
of Australia (WA) goes much tougher to its members. According to my notes, Tanya
Steinbeck said:
What I am certain of, is that
the next 12 months will put a handbrake on housing supply as the bureaucracy is
distracted with voluminous requests for information. The Select Committee will
likely drip feed 'interim reports' to Parliament that will whip up density
debate and drive further mistrust in the community around the integrity of
planning decisions without any concept of, or context behind the commercial and
market realities of how development is actually delivered.
Two of the key bodies that are
responsible for advocating for the private sector and deliver the majority of
our housing development are saying that this inquiry is bad for Western Australia.
Yet the Leader of the Liberal Party ignores what industry is saying and says on
the one hand in the regions that we have got to cut red tape and green tape,
but on the other hand allows Hon Neil Thomson to do whatever he wants and call
an inquiry with the Greens that is ultimately about more red tape and stopping
housing supply in Western Australia.
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