❓ Dr. Honey questions the Premier on the effectiveness of the Housing Supply Unit given the worsening housing crisis in WA. The Premier defends the government's policies and accuses the opposition of negativity.
AnsweredQoN 220Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HOUSING SUPPLY UNIT
220. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Premier:
I refer to the housing supply unit
established within the Department of Treasury to boost housing supply and
affordability in Western Australia. Given that the rental vacancy rate has hit
a record low of 0.4 per cent, the total number of homes listed for
sale in the metropolitan area is down 25 per cent, and Perth
property prices grew 18 per cent this year and are now at record
heights, will the Premier admit that every lever he is pulling is failing to
address the housing crisis?
220. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Premier:
I refer to the housing supply unit
established within the Department of Treasury to boost housing supply and
affordability in Western Australia. Given that the rental vacancy rate has hit
a record low of 0.4 per cent, the total number of homes listed for
sale in the metropolitan area is down 25 per cent, and Perth
property prices grew 18 per cent this year and are now at record
heights, will the Premier admit that every lever he is pulling is failing to
address the housing crisis?
AnswerView source ↗
At least we have a policy to implement and that is the
important distinction between us and that mob over there. Not a single idea, just negativity—constantly
negative and not offering any solutions. The fact of the matter is that Western
Australia has the fastest growing population in the country. Every day, 230
people come to Western Australia. They choose to live here, to work and grow up
in Western Australia with their families. That obviously puts pressure on an
already constrained market, which we all know was impacted by the after-effects
of COVID-19, particularly supply constraints and workforce constraints. Madam
Speaker, 94 000 people come into Western Australia
every year. Let me put that into context. That is like a new City of Bunbury, a
new major regional city, being put into the state every year. These are
the challenges of a fast-growing and strong economy. People are coming here
because they know that there are job opportunities, they know there is a future
and they know that this is a WA Labor government that is supporting that
economy. They can have confidence in coming here to call Western Australia
home.
We are doing everything, as the Minister for Housing says. We
have $2.6 billion in housing and homelessness initiatives, which are delivering
4 000 homes. We have already added 2 000 social homes and more than 1 000 are
currently under contract or construction, and there is $225 million to support
homelessness initiatives this year alone, supporting more than 130 critical
services and initiatives. These are nation-leading planning reforms that have
cut red tape and are bringing those homes to construction and to market faster.
Our government is delivering all those measures that industry has been calling
for and looking to and is making sure that we are maximising the opportunity to
house as many people as we can. We want to continue to be an attractive place
for people to come live, work and play in. But with that comes its challenges,
and one of those key challenges is housing and other social infrastructure. At
least we have a Labor government that has policies that are directly addressing
these issues. They are issues as a result of a vastly expanding and robust
economy. Since we have come to government, 300 000 people have found jobs in Western
Australia. That is the growth of the job market, and that is a significant
indicator that we are moving in the right direction.
We will always do what is right for WA. We will make sure
that we are putting those policies in place, standing up for Western Australians
and making sure that we are doing those things that continue to support making Western
Australia a great place to live.
important distinction between us and that mob over there. Not a single idea, just negativity—constantly
negative and not offering any solutions. The fact of the matter is that Western
Australia has the fastest growing population in the country. Every day, 230
people come to Western Australia. They choose to live here, to work and grow up
in Western Australia with their families. That obviously puts pressure on an
already constrained market, which we all know was impacted by the after-effects
of COVID-19, particularly supply constraints and workforce constraints. Madam
Speaker, 94 000 people come into Western Australia
every year. Let me put that into context. That is like a new City of Bunbury, a
new major regional city, being put into the state every year. These are
the challenges of a fast-growing and strong economy. People are coming here
because they know that there are job opportunities, they know there is a future
and they know that this is a WA Labor government that is supporting that
economy. They can have confidence in coming here to call Western Australia
home.
We are doing everything, as the Minister for Housing says. We
have $2.6 billion in housing and homelessness initiatives, which are delivering
4 000 homes. We have already added 2 000 social homes and more than 1 000 are
currently under contract or construction, and there is $225 million to support
homelessness initiatives this year alone, supporting more than 130 critical
services and initiatives. These are nation-leading planning reforms that have
cut red tape and are bringing those homes to construction and to market faster.
Our government is delivering all those measures that industry has been calling
for and looking to and is making sure that we are maximising the opportunity to
house as many people as we can. We want to continue to be an attractive place
for people to come live, work and play in. But with that comes its challenges,
and one of those key challenges is housing and other social infrastructure. At
least we have a Labor government that has policies that are directly addressing
these issues. They are issues as a result of a vastly expanding and robust
economy. Since we have come to government, 300 000 people have found jobs in Western
Australia. That is the growth of the job market, and that is a significant
indicator that we are moving in the right direction.
We will always do what is right for WA. We will make sure
that we are putting those policies in place, standing up for Western Australians
and making sure that we are doing those things that continue to support making Western
Australia a great place to live.
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