❓ Mrs. Hayden questions the Premier on policies addressing mortgage stress in WA. The Premier highlights Keystart expansion, financial counselling support, and utility cost management as key initiatives.
AnsweredQoN 140Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
COST OF LIVING — MORTGAGE STRESS
140. Mrs A.K. HAYDEN to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. Considering
the lack of detail in his answer, will the Premier specify the policies he is
undertaking to assist the record number of Western Australians experiencing
mortgage stress and this crisis?
140. Mrs A.K. HAYDEN to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. Considering
the lack of detail in his answer, will the Premier specify the policies he is
undertaking to assist the record number of Western Australians experiencing
mortgage stress and this crisis?
AnswerView source ↗
Obviously, people experiencing mortgage
stress is concerning for all of us. I am unaware of the legal aid guidance that
the member has issued, but I am aware of a few facts. Firstly, housing is more
affordable in Western Australia today than
it has been for a very long time. The state government, through our policies
with Keystart, has expanded —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine!
Mr M. McGOWAN : They ask me a question,
and then they yell at me when I am trying to answer it.
The state government, through
Keystart, has expanded the availability of the loan book to ensure that first
home buyers in particular can have access to more available credit. As we know,
there has been a tightening of credit nationally. That is an unfortunate
development, and the range of activities and practices exposed by the banking
royal commission has affected that, so the state government has stepped up and
expanded the capacity for Keystart to provide that support.
Secondly, as members will be aware,
the government has hugely expanded the assistance available through financial
counselling services for people to assist themselves. The Minister for
Community Services has been at the forefront of that and has ensured that the
cuts that were put in place by the last government have been reversed and that
there has been an expansion of support for people who might need that financial
assistance.
Utility costs are an important
aspect of a family budget. The increases in utility costs that this government
brought in in our first two years in office were half the increases in utility
costs� brought in by the previous Liberal government in its first two years in
office. That is a fact. Obviously, in the coming budget, members will see the
government's approach, but they can rest assured that our good
financial management—the best financial management in living memory in Western
Australia—will pay some dividends for households across Western Australia. We are providing the best
financial management in Western Australia in living memory, and that will mean that dividends are secured for households across Western Australia.
Members will see that in the budget.
stress is concerning for all of us. I am unaware of the legal aid guidance that
the member has issued, but I am aware of a few facts. Firstly, housing is more
affordable in Western Australia today than
it has been for a very long time. The state government, through our policies
with Keystart, has expanded —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine!
Mr M. McGOWAN : They ask me a question,
and then they yell at me when I am trying to answer it.
The state government, through
Keystart, has expanded the availability of the loan book to ensure that first
home buyers in particular can have access to more available credit. As we know,
there has been a tightening of credit nationally. That is an unfortunate
development, and the range of activities and practices exposed by the banking
royal commission has affected that, so the state government has stepped up and
expanded the capacity for Keystart to provide that support.
Secondly, as members will be aware,
the government has hugely expanded the assistance available through financial
counselling services for people to assist themselves. The Minister for
Community Services has been at the forefront of that and has ensured that the
cuts that were put in place by the last government have been reversed and that
there has been an expansion of support for people who might need that financial
assistance.
Utility costs are an important
aspect of a family budget. The increases in utility costs that this government
brought in in our first two years in office were half the increases in utility
costs� brought in by the previous Liberal government in its first two years in
office. That is a fact. Obviously, in the coming budget, members will see the
government's approach, but they can rest assured that our good
financial management—the best financial management in living memory in Western
Australia—will pay some dividends for households across Western Australia. We are providing the best
financial management in Western Australia in living memory, and that will mean that dividends are secured for households across Western Australia.
Members will see that in the budget.
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