❓ Mrs Munday asks about the government's residential design code review and alternative views. Mr Carey outlines the review's aims and criticises the opposition's stance on planning and social issues.
AnsweredQoN 220Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Housing—Planning reform220.Mrs Lisa Mundayto
theMinister for Planning and Lands:I refer to the Cook
Labor government's agenda to streamline and simplify planning rules to enable
more housing.(1) Can the minister please outline to the house
how this government's review of residential design codes is supporting these
efforts?(2) Can the minister also please advise the house
whether he is aware of any alternative views or other agendas from those
opposite?
theMinister for Planning and Lands:I refer to the Cook
Labor government's agenda to streamline and simplify planning rules to enable
more housing.(1) Can the minister please outline to the house
how this government's review of residential design codes is supporting these
efforts?(2) Can the minister also please advise the house
whether he is aware of any alternative views or other agendas from those
opposite?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
18 June 2025
Response time
0 days
Mr John Carey replied:(1)–(2) I thank the member for her
question. As we know, the state government is leading the nation in terms of
planning reform, and we have demonstrated our ability to cut red tape for
housing. Our planning reforms, in terms of both the significant development
pathway and reforms to development assessment panels, are looked upon by other
states as creating greater clarity and certainty. It is for that reason,
building on those reforms, that we have today announced a review of the residential
codes. The R-codes are the basic planning tools that guide residential
development in Western Australia. It is clear that we can do more. There is not
a moment in time when we draw a line in the sand and say that that is enough
when it comes to looking at our rules in relation to housing development.The review by the WA Planning
Commission will look at three key aspects: greater simplicity; greater clarity
and greater organisation, particularly with the advance of AI; and enabling
density and infill, particularly medium density and higher density. We will
have a range of consultations. I will not come in with set views. We believe
that there can be some consensus for quick wins and then stronger reform for
the long term. That is our reform program.What is the view of the opposite
side? We know that members opposite talk the big game on cutting red tape but
do the opposite. The Nationals WA went to the last election to make the DAP
system harder. They would have had a system by which it would have been split three–three
between experts and members, which would have resulted in so many more regional
projects. The Liberal Party is all over the place. Of course, we know that the
member for Nedlands, who has attacked DAPs—he called them DAPstooges—wants to return the powers from the WAPC.
I can make it clear what that would have meant forthe Nedlands hospice.
Under the aspirations of the member for Nedlands, the hospice would not have
been considered at a state level; it would have been determined by the local
government, which said that that project was at risk because of bombers—his
mates on council! He wants to give the power back to them. They would have
stopped the hospice—his best mates.What are the other agendas? Let
us look at the upper house. "The Clan" has taken over. I am holding a
rainbow, and I do not want members to panic.Mr Jonathan Huston:Your rainbow.Mr John Carey:My rainbow—interesting; very
interesting. My rainbow. It is a rainbow cushion from Big W that is found in
homes across Western Australia. According to Hon Phil Twiss, it is part of a
nasty and evil agenda. You can see it now: imagine the shark music; the rainbow
is coming for you! This is what Hon Phil Twiss said, according the member for
Nedlands, about my rainbow. He said we:… need to claim back the symbol
of the rainbow to what God made it to be …"That the homosexual
lobby—Several members
interjected.Point of orderMr Liam Staltari:I have a point of order. I refer to
standing order 78 about relevance. I really question how this is relevant to
R-code reform.Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Members!Mr Terry Healyinterjected.The Speaker:Member for Southern River, that is
enough, thanks. Member for Carine, I will not uphold that point of order. You
cannot see it, but the question that was asked refers to whether the minister
is aware of any alternative views or other agendas from those opposite. Carry
on, minister.Questions without notice resumedMr John Carey:Can I say, we are not surprised that
the member for Carine would interject. He was named in the texts as part of the
misogynist "Clan", so no surprises, mate, where you stand on
ideological viewpoints. Hon Phil Twiss said:That the homosexual lobby has usurped a
biblical symbol of God's mercy (but also a reminder of his judgment) is
insulting at least but utterly blasphemousThis is the kind of
Liberal that that party has endorsed and that the Leader of the Liberal Party
says is the kind of people they want in the upper house. As the member for
Nedlands says, it is your rainbow. Well, can I say this: there is only one side
of this house that is focused on the things that matter: the cost of living,
health, housing—the things that matter. The other side is now dominated
by ideological extremists who want to dictate to people about their personal
lives and who are worried about a rainbow. That is their focus; our focus is on
the things that matter for Western Australians.Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Member for Bassendean! Members!State of Our Schools Survey
Housing—Planning reform
question. As we know, the state government is leading the nation in terms of
planning reform, and we have demonstrated our ability to cut red tape for
housing. Our planning reforms, in terms of both the significant development
pathway and reforms to development assessment panels, are looked upon by other
states as creating greater clarity and certainty. It is for that reason,
building on those reforms, that we have today announced a review of the residential
codes. The R-codes are the basic planning tools that guide residential
development in Western Australia. It is clear that we can do more. There is not
a moment in time when we draw a line in the sand and say that that is enough
when it comes to looking at our rules in relation to housing development.The review by the WA Planning
Commission will look at three key aspects: greater simplicity; greater clarity
and greater organisation, particularly with the advance of AI; and enabling
density and infill, particularly medium density and higher density. We will
have a range of consultations. I will not come in with set views. We believe
that there can be some consensus for quick wins and then stronger reform for
the long term. That is our reform program.What is the view of the opposite
side? We know that members opposite talk the big game on cutting red tape but
do the opposite. The Nationals WA went to the last election to make the DAP
system harder. They would have had a system by which it would have been split three–three
between experts and members, which would have resulted in so many more regional
projects. The Liberal Party is all over the place. Of course, we know that the
member for Nedlands, who has attacked DAPs—he called them DAPstooges—wants to return the powers from the WAPC.
I can make it clear what that would have meant forthe Nedlands hospice.
Under the aspirations of the member for Nedlands, the hospice would not have
been considered at a state level; it would have been determined by the local
government, which said that that project was at risk because of bombers—his
mates on council! He wants to give the power back to them. They would have
stopped the hospice—his best mates.What are the other agendas? Let
us look at the upper house. "The Clan" has taken over. I am holding a
rainbow, and I do not want members to panic.Mr Jonathan Huston:Your rainbow.Mr John Carey:My rainbow—interesting; very
interesting. My rainbow. It is a rainbow cushion from Big W that is found in
homes across Western Australia. According to Hon Phil Twiss, it is part of a
nasty and evil agenda. You can see it now: imagine the shark music; the rainbow
is coming for you! This is what Hon Phil Twiss said, according the member for
Nedlands, about my rainbow. He said we:… need to claim back the symbol
of the rainbow to what God made it to be …"That the homosexual
lobby—Several members
interjected.Point of orderMr Liam Staltari:I have a point of order. I refer to
standing order 78 about relevance. I really question how this is relevant to
R-code reform.Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Members!Mr Terry Healyinterjected.The Speaker:Member for Southern River, that is
enough, thanks. Member for Carine, I will not uphold that point of order. You
cannot see it, but the question that was asked refers to whether the minister
is aware of any alternative views or other agendas from those opposite. Carry
on, minister.Questions without notice resumedMr John Carey:Can I say, we are not surprised that
the member for Carine would interject. He was named in the texts as part of the
misogynist "Clan", so no surprises, mate, where you stand on
ideological viewpoints. Hon Phil Twiss said:That the homosexual lobby has usurped a
biblical symbol of God's mercy (but also a reminder of his judgment) is
insulting at least but utterly blasphemousThis is the kind of
Liberal that that party has endorsed and that the Leader of the Liberal Party
says is the kind of people they want in the upper house. As the member for
Nedlands says, it is your rainbow. Well, can I say this: there is only one side
of this house that is focused on the things that matter: the cost of living,
health, housing—the things that matter. The other side is now dominated
by ideological extremists who want to dictate to people about their personal
lives and who are worried about a rainbow. That is their focus; our focus is on
the things that matter for Western Australians.Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Member for Bassendean! Members!State of Our Schools Survey
Housing—Planning reform
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