❓ Minister for Planning and Lands defends WA's planning reforms, contrasting them favourably with NSW and criticising the WA Liberal/National opposition's stance on housing supply and red tape.
AnsweredQoN 477Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Planning reforms
477. Mr Frank Paolino to
the Minister for Planning and Lands:
I note that the New
South Wales Labor government announced significant planning reforms following
Western Australia's nation-leading planning reforms.
(1) Can the minister update the house on the
rollout of these reforms?
(2) Is the minister aware of anyone in the nation
who does not support these reforms?
477. Mr Frank Paolino to
the Minister for Planning and Lands:
I note that the New
South Wales Labor government announced significant planning reforms following
Western Australia's nation-leading planning reforms.
(1) Can the minister update the house on the
rollout of these reforms?
(2) Is the minister aware of anyone in the nation
who does not support these reforms?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member
for Mount Lawley for his question.
(1)–(2) As I have been putting on the
public record, every state in the country is facing housing and rental
pressures. Accordingly, National Cabinet has set out an ambitious agenda for
every state to drive planning reform. I am deeply proud that Western Australia
has been leading the nation. A number of stakeholders and national stakeholders
have referred to Western Australia and the work that we are doing to cut red
tape and streamline housing approvals. Of course, we are seeing billions of
dollars of projects that are now being approved through our consolidated
development assessment panels and also our significant pathway process. More
reform is coming through the review of the residential codes and a range of
other ways to standardise local planning policies. I note that only yesterday
New South Wales also announced major planning reforms. They are big reforms for
that state. I have to say, as a parochial Western Australian, they are not as
good as ours! We have one of the simplest streamlined approvals processes. What
shocked me was the response of the New South Wales Liberal opposition. Now, gird
your loins, because members on this side are going to be shocked, but, in fact,
the opposition actually showed support for the reforms. I quote the New South
Wales Liberal opposition leader, who said:
Oppositions shouldn't always
oppose …
Well, there you go! He then
said:
We are pro housing, we are pro
reform.
Imagine that in Western
Australia, just once, on a critical issue of housing supply, we could see this
opposition here take a bipartisan approach. 'Would that not be great, given
that housing supply and cutting red tape is critical? But not here; not in Western
Australia. That side—the Liberals and the Nationals—in fact,
want the opposite. The National Party took to the last election a policy to
actually add red tape and make it harder to approve workers' accommodation and
housing through its proposed development assessment panel reforms. The WA
Liberals are all over the place! They were not consistent, but it was clear
that they were siding with NIMBYs and opposing housing development. Now, in the
other place, they are calling for a parliamentary inquiry. I have to say this: I
am now waiting for the time that Hon Neil Thomson is shafted from his position
and given the flick because none of the industry players have any confidence in
the WA Liberals' understanding the needs of housing and cutting red tape. Hon Neil
Thomson is going in the opposite direction. Of course, this reflects the Leader
of the Liberal Party because he does not have that power and strength to say to the shadow minister, "Actually,
we need policies that bolster housing, not that add more red tape." I cannot
believe I am saying it—bring the Liberal New South Wales opposition
over here because at least they get it.
Mr Basil Zempilas: Bring the South Australian
Premier over here.
Mr John Carey: Oh no, he is upset!
Several members
interjected.
Mr John Carey: I am no football fan, but I should not
talk about shafting because we remember what he did at the AFL grand final in
2021 with Simon Goodwin—he shafted him real good! So, let us not talk
about shafting because he gets very sensitive about that.
Let us be very clear:
only one side of politics is delivering in Western Australia. That side—the
WA Liberals and Nationals—is now becoming isolated across the country
as a lone voice for more red tape for housing.
for Mount Lawley for his question.
(1)–(2) As I have been putting on the
public record, every state in the country is facing housing and rental
pressures. Accordingly, National Cabinet has set out an ambitious agenda for
every state to drive planning reform. I am deeply proud that Western Australia
has been leading the nation. A number of stakeholders and national stakeholders
have referred to Western Australia and the work that we are doing to cut red
tape and streamline housing approvals. Of course, we are seeing billions of
dollars of projects that are now being approved through our consolidated
development assessment panels and also our significant pathway process. More
reform is coming through the review of the residential codes and a range of
other ways to standardise local planning policies. I note that only yesterday
New South Wales also announced major planning reforms. They are big reforms for
that state. I have to say, as a parochial Western Australian, they are not as
good as ours! We have one of the simplest streamlined approvals processes. What
shocked me was the response of the New South Wales Liberal opposition. Now, gird
your loins, because members on this side are going to be shocked, but, in fact,
the opposition actually showed support for the reforms. I quote the New South
Wales Liberal opposition leader, who said:
Oppositions shouldn't always
oppose …
Well, there you go! He then
said:
We are pro housing, we are pro
reform.
Imagine that in Western
Australia, just once, on a critical issue of housing supply, we could see this
opposition here take a bipartisan approach. 'Would that not be great, given
that housing supply and cutting red tape is critical? But not here; not in Western
Australia. That side—the Liberals and the Nationals—in fact,
want the opposite. The National Party took to the last election a policy to
actually add red tape and make it harder to approve workers' accommodation and
housing through its proposed development assessment panel reforms. The WA
Liberals are all over the place! They were not consistent, but it was clear
that they were siding with NIMBYs and opposing housing development. Now, in the
other place, they are calling for a parliamentary inquiry. I have to say this: I
am now waiting for the time that Hon Neil Thomson is shafted from his position
and given the flick because none of the industry players have any confidence in
the WA Liberals' understanding the needs of housing and cutting red tape. Hon Neil
Thomson is going in the opposite direction. Of course, this reflects the Leader
of the Liberal Party because he does not have that power and strength to say to the shadow minister, "Actually,
we need policies that bolster housing, not that add more red tape." I cannot
believe I am saying it—bring the Liberal New South Wales opposition
over here because at least they get it.
Mr Basil Zempilas: Bring the South Australian
Premier over here.
Mr John Carey: Oh no, he is upset!
Several members
interjected.
Mr John Carey: I am no football fan, but I should not
talk about shafting because we remember what he did at the AFL grand final in
2021 with Simon Goodwin—he shafted him real good! So, let us not talk
about shafting because he gets very sensitive about that.
Let us be very clear:
only one side of politics is delivering in Western Australia. That side—the
WA Liberals and Nationals—is now becoming isolated across the country
as a lone voice for more red tape for housing.
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