❓ Question addresses the Cook Labor government's $3.2 billion investment in housing and homelessness, seeking details on new homes and innovative construction. The Minister responds by outlining progress, challenges, and criticizes the opposition's stance on housing developments.
AnsweredQoN 777Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS
— INITIATIVES
777. Ms E.L. HAMILTON to the Minister for Housing:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's
$3.2 billion investment in new housing and homelessness measures.
(1) Can the minister outline to the house how these
measures are delivering more homes for Western Australians?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how the government is leveraging innovative
construction methods to deliver homes as quickly as possible?
— INITIATIVES
777. Ms E.L. HAMILTON to the Minister for Housing:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's
$3.2 billion investment in new housing and homelessness measures.
(1) Can the minister outline to the house how these
measures are delivering more homes for Western Australians?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how the government is leveraging innovative
construction methods to deliver homes as quickly as possible?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for her question. As we know in this house, every state in the
country is facing extraordinary housing and rental pressures. We take this task
very seriously. We understand that every house created is a future home of a Western
Australian family. It is for this reason that we have seen an unprecedented investment in social housing,
housing and homelessness programs of $3.2 billion since 2021 . As I always
say, in the tight construction market we have delivered around 2 550 social
homes of our target of 5 000.
I might take the last part of the
question first to say that we have embraced new forms of construction. It is
well known—we discussed it in the chamber yesterday—how
double-brick homes have been a long part of Western Australian building
history, but the state government has been working hard to facilitate new forms
of building. That has included creating new building panels targeted around new
industries, whether it is modular, prefab or small homes. In fact, we piloted a
modular program to get housing out the door. Part of the success of that pilot
program was delivering Government Regional Officers' Housing
accommodation and social housing. We will continue to develop modular
construction as a sustainable method across our housing delivery programs.
The statistics show us that the
combination of all our policy measures is having an effect and that, across the board, we are seeing significant green shoots.
In particular, the latest data shows that building approvals have risen
44.6 per cent to 19 506 over the year to September, far outstripping the growth
in other states, in which they have declined by five per cent. In fact, WA's
quarterly building approvals exceeded 5 600 in the September quarter, equating
to an annualised rate of over 22 000 builds. Yes, we acknowledge the tight
constraints in apartment construction but building approvals for apartments
have doubled over the year to September. Overall housing completions reached 17
700 in 2023–24, which is the highest rate in six years. Of course, those changes and positive movements are also
reflected in the vacancy housing rate , which has shifted from 0.7 per
cent to 1.6 per cent. We are seeing significant positive improvements that are
delivering real impacts for Western Australians.
In
contrast, on the one hand, members opposite offer cash incentives, which they
have previously criticised , while on
the other, they oppose individual developments. I mentioned the member for
Cottesloe, but I find the Liberal candidate for Cottesloe fascinating
because on the one hand she opposes the development at 7–11 Station Street, Cottesloe, which will include 125
apartments, but at the same time, her party has stated that if elected,
it would provide $2.5 million to ensure that those apartments become a reality.
Just get this right: on one hand, individual Liberal candidates are opposing
developments—the Liberal candidate for
Churchlands is opposing development in Churchlands and the Liberal candidate
for Kingsley is opposing development in Kingsley—but on the
other hand, the party leadership has stated it will potentially provide funding
for those developments, including to the local governments by paying their
rates. What a bizarre scenario! My critical criticism is that they say
different things according to different audiences. They go to local forums and
sprout all the nimbyism in the world, but the party leadership is offering
money to make those developments a reality. You do not know where you sit with
the Liberal Party—it has no consistency, vision or leadership on
housing policy.
thank the member for her question. As we know in this house, every state in the
country is facing extraordinary housing and rental pressures. We take this task
very seriously. We understand that every house created is a future home of a Western
Australian family. It is for this reason that we have seen an unprecedented investment in social housing,
housing and homelessness programs of $3.2 billion since 2021 . As I always
say, in the tight construction market we have delivered around 2 550 social
homes of our target of 5 000.
I might take the last part of the
question first to say that we have embraced new forms of construction. It is
well known—we discussed it in the chamber yesterday—how
double-brick homes have been a long part of Western Australian building
history, but the state government has been working hard to facilitate new forms
of building. That has included creating new building panels targeted around new
industries, whether it is modular, prefab or small homes. In fact, we piloted a
modular program to get housing out the door. Part of the success of that pilot
program was delivering Government Regional Officers' Housing
accommodation and social housing. We will continue to develop modular
construction as a sustainable method across our housing delivery programs.
The statistics show us that the
combination of all our policy measures is having an effect and that, across the board, we are seeing significant green shoots.
In particular, the latest data shows that building approvals have risen
44.6 per cent to 19 506 over the year to September, far outstripping the growth
in other states, in which they have declined by five per cent. In fact, WA's
quarterly building approvals exceeded 5 600 in the September quarter, equating
to an annualised rate of over 22 000 builds. Yes, we acknowledge the tight
constraints in apartment construction but building approvals for apartments
have doubled over the year to September. Overall housing completions reached 17
700 in 2023–24, which is the highest rate in six years. Of course, those changes and positive movements are also
reflected in the vacancy housing rate , which has shifted from 0.7 per
cent to 1.6 per cent. We are seeing significant positive improvements that are
delivering real impacts for Western Australians.
In
contrast, on the one hand, members opposite offer cash incentives, which they
have previously criticised , while on
the other, they oppose individual developments. I mentioned the member for
Cottesloe, but I find the Liberal candidate for Cottesloe fascinating
because on the one hand she opposes the development at 7–11 Station Street, Cottesloe, which will include 125
apartments, but at the same time, her party has stated that if elected,
it would provide $2.5 million to ensure that those apartments become a reality.
Just get this right: on one hand, individual Liberal candidates are opposing
developments—the Liberal candidate for
Churchlands is opposing development in Churchlands and the Liberal candidate
for Kingsley is opposing development in Kingsley—but on the
other hand, the party leadership has stated it will potentially provide funding
for those developments, including to the local governments by paying their
rates. What a bizarre scenario! My critical criticism is that they say
different things according to different audiences. They go to local forums and
sprout all the nimbyism in the world, but the party leadership is offering
money to make those developments a reality. You do not know where you sit with
the Liberal Party—it has no consistency, vision or leadership on
housing policy.
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