❓ Ms. Davies questions the Minister for Housing on the lack of affordable housing for essential workers in regional WA, citing a specific case and broader concerns. The Minister responds by highlighting increased housing supply and government initiatives.
AnsweredQoN 293Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HOUSING — AFFORDABILITY — REGIONS
293. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Minister for Housing:
I refer to Tiffany Dixon, a 22-year-old
childcare worker in Kununurra who was forced to live in her car and then in a hotel
to keep her job due to a lack of housing, and to the concerns raised with me by
the Regional Chambers of Commerce and Industry of WA last week that a shortage
of childcare workers is preventing its members from attracting and retaining
staff across the state. Why has the minister's government failed to put
measures in place to ensure that essential workers like Tiffany have access to
affordable housing in regional WA?
293. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Minister for Housing:
I refer to Tiffany Dixon, a 22-year-old
childcare worker in Kununurra who was forced to live in her car and then in a hotel
to keep her job due to a lack of housing, and to the concerns raised with me by
the Regional Chambers of Commerce and Industry of WA last week that a shortage
of childcare workers is preventing its members from attracting and retaining
staff across the state. Why has the minister's government failed to put
measures in place to ensure that essential workers like Tiffany have access to
affordable housing in regional WA?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the
question. In fact, under this government, we are seeing an extraordinary growth
in housing supply in Western Australia. As I have already said in Parliament,
we have seen 24 000 building approvals in the last 12 months, and that is 70
per cent growth. That has been facilitated by our building bonus grant. That is
enabling thousands of Western Australians to own their first home. We have also
increased the borrowing limit of Keystart and increased the income thresholds,
which has also meant a large number of Western Australians owning their first home. This is also reflected in the
regions, where 3 344 new properties have been approved for construction in regional Western Australia. If we look at the
increases, we see that, for example, in Albany, there has been a 110 per
cent increase; in Esperance, a 51 per cent increase; in Geraldton, a 100 per cent
increase; in Broome, a 145 per cent increase; and in Karratha, a 470 per cent
increase. Across Western Australia, we will see an increase in housing supply. They are extraordinary numbers.
When we listen to the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia, it also makes it very clear that as those
properties come online across regional Western Australia and in metropolitan Perth, we will see relief in the Perth rental market. As new home owners leave
their rental properties and go into new homes, we will see that relief in the
market.
question. In fact, under this government, we are seeing an extraordinary growth
in housing supply in Western Australia. As I have already said in Parliament,
we have seen 24 000 building approvals in the last 12 months, and that is 70
per cent growth. That has been facilitated by our building bonus grant. That is
enabling thousands of Western Australians to own their first home. We have also
increased the borrowing limit of Keystart and increased the income thresholds,
which has also meant a large number of Western Australians owning their first home. This is also reflected in the
regions, where 3 344 new properties have been approved for construction in regional Western Australia. If we look at the
increases, we see that, for example, in Albany, there has been a 110 per
cent increase; in Esperance, a 51 per cent increase; in Geraldton, a 100 per cent
increase; in Broome, a 145 per cent increase; and in Karratha, a 470 per cent
increase. Across Western Australia, we will see an increase in housing supply. They are extraordinary numbers.
When we listen to the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia, it also makes it very clear that as those
properties come online across regional Western Australia and in metropolitan Perth, we will see relief in the Perth rental market. As new home owners leave
their rental properties and go into new homes, we will see that relief in the
market.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.