❓ Opposition questions the effectiveness of the government's head contractor relief scheme following a builder's collapse. The Premier defends the scheme and highlights other support measures for the construction sector, criticising the opposition's stance on development.
AnsweredQoN 11Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
RESIDENTIAL HOUSING
11. Ms L. METTAM to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
Following the collapse of another WA builder, will the Premier now admit that
his government's $30 million head contractor relief scheme has been a total
failure?
11. Ms L. METTAM to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
Following the collapse of another WA builder, will the Premier now admit that
his government's $30 million head contractor relief scheme has been a total
failure?
AnswerView source ↗
No. We worked with the Master
Builders Association and it was very excited and happy about that activity that
we took. I have spoken to it. It was very excited by it and its view is that it
has worked. But sometimes, as has always happened under every government,
businesses will become insolvent for one reason or another. That has been the history of the construction sector. We
have put in place a whole range of measures to support the construction sector over our time in office. They include the deed retention trust program
for the majority of construction projects over $1 million, which is the first
of its kind in Australia; the anti-phoenixing measures to stop builders who go
bankrupt and then just start again the next week to ensure that so-called dodgy
builders do not come back in; the expansion of the retention trust scheme;
shorter payment time frames; and government being more available for alliance
contracting and also for topping up some of those projects for which the cost
of construction has climbed, and we have certain funds set aside for those
purposes. The cost of construction has climbed. The price of steel has doubled
or tripled. The price of timber has doubled or tripled. A lot of things have
occurred because of factors outside of our control, predominantly the Russian
invasion of Ukraine, the demand pressures caused by COVID around the world and
the disruption of supply chains. The one thing that members can have faith in
is that this government is actually doing something about it. We do not just
whinge like the Liberal Party does every time a new development comes along. We
actually get out there and we make things happen.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Mr
M. McGOWAN : I was driving through
the western suburbs the other day and I saw the Blackburne development in Peppermint Grove. Do members know who will live
in it? People downsizing in the western suburbs are the ones who will
live there. Then I drove through Subiaco and I saw the new high-rise there that
the member for Cottesloe opposed. There it was, coming out of the ground. Do
members know who will live in that? It will be people downsizing or younger people wanting to live in Subiaco and enjoy the
lifestyle. Then I looked at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children,
which is not there. I did not look at it, because it is not there; I looked at
the site, and I looked at Subiaco Oval, which is also not there. I looked at
those things, and over the next few years, they will have that medium-density
exciting development, so lots of people will live there. Do members know what
will happen then? All the shops, restaurants and bars will be lively and fun,
like they are in the centre of Sydney and Melbourne. What is wrong with that?
Why does the Liberal Party always oppose that? Why does the party of capitalism
hate capitalism? What is wrong with you? Liberal Party members do not really
know what they stand for.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please,
members!
Builders Association and it was very excited and happy about that activity that
we took. I have spoken to it. It was very excited by it and its view is that it
has worked. But sometimes, as has always happened under every government,
businesses will become insolvent for one reason or another. That has been the history of the construction sector. We
have put in place a whole range of measures to support the construction sector over our time in office. They include the deed retention trust program
for the majority of construction projects over $1 million, which is the first
of its kind in Australia; the anti-phoenixing measures to stop builders who go
bankrupt and then just start again the next week to ensure that so-called dodgy
builders do not come back in; the expansion of the retention trust scheme;
shorter payment time frames; and government being more available for alliance
contracting and also for topping up some of those projects for which the cost
of construction has climbed, and we have certain funds set aside for those
purposes. The cost of construction has climbed. The price of steel has doubled
or tripled. The price of timber has doubled or tripled. A lot of things have
occurred because of factors outside of our control, predominantly the Russian
invasion of Ukraine, the demand pressures caused by COVID around the world and
the disruption of supply chains. The one thing that members can have faith in
is that this government is actually doing something about it. We do not just
whinge like the Liberal Party does every time a new development comes along. We
actually get out there and we make things happen.
Ms L. Mettam interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Mr
M. McGOWAN : I was driving through
the western suburbs the other day and I saw the Blackburne development in Peppermint Grove. Do members know who will live
in it? People downsizing in the western suburbs are the ones who will
live there. Then I drove through Subiaco and I saw the new high-rise there that
the member for Cottesloe opposed. There it was, coming out of the ground. Do
members know who will live in that? It will be people downsizing or younger people wanting to live in Subiaco and enjoy the
lifestyle. Then I looked at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children,
which is not there. I did not look at it, because it is not there; I looked at
the site, and I looked at Subiaco Oval, which is also not there. I looked at
those things, and over the next few years, they will have that medium-density
exciting development, so lots of people will live there. Do members know what
will happen then? All the shops, restaurants and bars will be lively and fun,
like they are in the centre of Sydney and Melbourne. What is wrong with that?
Why does the Liberal Party always oppose that? Why does the party of capitalism
hate capitalism? What is wrong with you? Liberal Party members do not really
know what they stand for.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please,
members!
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