❓ Mr. L'Estrange asks the Premier about low house building approvals in WA. The Premier responds by outlining government initiatives to support the housing sector, including Keystart loans, planning reforms, strata reforms, bushfire regulation rationalization, and Metronet.
AnsweredQoN 903Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HOUSING —
BUILDING APPROVALS
903. Mr S.K. L'ESTRANGE to the Premier:
Australian Bureau of Statistics
trend data shows house building approvals in Western Australia are as low as
when records began in 1983. What is the Premier going to do to support the
house building sector?
BUILDING APPROVALS
903. Mr S.K. L'ESTRANGE to the Premier:
Australian Bureau of Statistics
trend data shows house building approvals in Western Australia are as low as
when records began in 1983. What is the Premier going to do to support the
house building sector?
AnswerView source ↗
I
thank the member for the question. The government acknowledges that there have
been some issues in particular with activity in the housing sector. The member
might recall that a few months ago, we announced a special program with
Keystart—we are the only state in Australia with a Keystart model—to
allow people to get a Keystart loan more easily and to therefore boost housing
activity. Yesterday or the day before in Parliament, the Minister for Housing
talked about an increase in activity as a consequence of this initiative to
allow more people to access a Keystart loan. That is a big exercise for a state
government to undertake. It is widely and fulsomely supported by the housing
sector.
I think there is a problem with
lending in Australia. Anecdotally, members can talk to anyone who is seeking to
buy a house, to undertake some upgrades or what have you in their home, or to
refinance, and they talk about how difficult it is now to get finance. It is a big
problem in Australia. I do not think that this matter has been taken seriously
enough at a national level. Obviously, there has been an overreaction to the
royal commission. The royal commission uncovered some activities on the part of
banks and some individuals who work there that was unsavoury and inappropriate,
but the reaction in terms of the lending practices of the banks has gone way
too far. I would urge the federal government to do more than whatever it is doing
to free up finance across Australia, because it is causing real problems in the
real world. Although the reaction to the royal commission perhaps was
understandable, it has gone way too far and is now way out of balance.
When it comes to other government
initiatives that the member asked me about, we are undergoing a planning reform
process that has been announced by the Minister for Planning. This will slash
the number of land zones from over 1 000 to less than 300, streamline the
development assessment process and abolish the need for small businesses to
submit a ''change of use'' application for developments in town
centres and on main streets—an important initiative—amongst a range
of other planning reforms. This government has implemented strata reforms.
Members will remember that major piece of legislation that came through
Parliament. It was talked about for years but never undertaken. One of the
things the Minister for Emergency Services and I have worked on is a rationalisation of the inconsistencies in the
bushfire regulations and framework put in place by the last government .
Members will recall that those regulations made it very difficult and expensive
for people, often without any reason. We have started the process of
rationalising that and it has been much appreciated and applauded by the housing sector. We are doing a range of things.
The building of Metronet will create all sorts of planning and housing opportunities in the community. We look forward to starting work on some of
those rail lines later this year. There are various other initiatives, but I will
wait for the member's supplementary question to inform him of more.
thank the member for the question. The government acknowledges that there have
been some issues in particular with activity in the housing sector. The member
might recall that a few months ago, we announced a special program with
Keystart—we are the only state in Australia with a Keystart model—to
allow people to get a Keystart loan more easily and to therefore boost housing
activity. Yesterday or the day before in Parliament, the Minister for Housing
talked about an increase in activity as a consequence of this initiative to
allow more people to access a Keystart loan. That is a big exercise for a state
government to undertake. It is widely and fulsomely supported by the housing
sector.
I think there is a problem with
lending in Australia. Anecdotally, members can talk to anyone who is seeking to
buy a house, to undertake some upgrades or what have you in their home, or to
refinance, and they talk about how difficult it is now to get finance. It is a big
problem in Australia. I do not think that this matter has been taken seriously
enough at a national level. Obviously, there has been an overreaction to the
royal commission. The royal commission uncovered some activities on the part of
banks and some individuals who work there that was unsavoury and inappropriate,
but the reaction in terms of the lending practices of the banks has gone way
too far. I would urge the federal government to do more than whatever it is doing
to free up finance across Australia, because it is causing real problems in the
real world. Although the reaction to the royal commission perhaps was
understandable, it has gone way too far and is now way out of balance.
When it comes to other government
initiatives that the member asked me about, we are undergoing a planning reform
process that has been announced by the Minister for Planning. This will slash
the number of land zones from over 1 000 to less than 300, streamline the
development assessment process and abolish the need for small businesses to
submit a ''change of use'' application for developments in town
centres and on main streets—an important initiative—amongst a range
of other planning reforms. This government has implemented strata reforms.
Members will remember that major piece of legislation that came through
Parliament. It was talked about for years but never undertaken. One of the
things the Minister for Emergency Services and I have worked on is a rationalisation of the inconsistencies in the
bushfire regulations and framework put in place by the last government .
Members will recall that those regulations made it very difficult and expensive
for people, often without any reason. We have started the process of
rationalising that and it has been much appreciated and applauded by the housing sector. We are doing a range of things.
The building of Metronet will create all sorts of planning and housing opportunities in the community. We look forward to starting work on some of
those rail lines later this year. There are various other initiatives, but I will
wait for the member's supplementary question to inform him of more.
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