❓ Mr. Mubarakai questions the Minister for Housing on efforts to increase housing supply. The Minister details government initiatives and criticises the opposition's lack of policy.
AnsweredQoN 616Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HOUSING
— SUPPLY
616. Mr Y. MUBARAKAI to the Minister for Housing:
My question is to the Minister for
Housing, whom I personally graded with an ''E'' for excellence!
I
refer to the Cook Labor government's efforts to diversify housing
options and increase supply for Western Australians.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how this government is prioritising the delivery
of new and innovative measures to boost the number of houses?
(2) Can the minister advise the house whether he is
aware of any alternative proposals to increase the housing supply?
— SUPPLY
616. Mr Y. MUBARAKAI to the Minister for Housing:
My question is to the Minister for
Housing, whom I personally graded with an ''E'' for excellence!
I
refer to the Cook Labor government's efforts to diversify housing
options and increase supply for Western Australians.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how this government is prioritising the delivery
of new and innovative measures to boost the number of houses?
(2) Can the minister advise the house whether he is
aware of any alternative proposals to increase the housing supply?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for his question and his commitment to boosting housing supply
across Western Australia. As we know, we are
doing everything we can to boost housing supply, whether it is in the private rental market, in social and
affordable housing or in the broader market for new homebuyers and for
existing buyers who wish to buy an established home. Of course, since 2021, we
have made a record investment of $3.2 billion in housing and homelessness
initiatives. We keep increasing the social housing target and we have made a new
target of 5 000 homes. To date, we have delivered more than 2 450 social homes
in the tightest construction market in our state's history, with
another 1 000 under contract or construction. To do that, we have had to think
outside the box. It is not just about double-brick homes. That is why there has
been a concerted effort to build homes through alternative means, whether it is
prefab, modular or small homes. If members look at what we are doing, we
engaged Summit in Spearwood to produce tiny homes built offsite and delivered
onsite to create new social homes. In Hamilton Hill are 12 units that are
timber frame homes. From the concrete pour, it takes nine months to get a home
completed. We know that in this tight construction market, that is actually
difficult to attain. We have done modular homes and modular builds with our
steel modular program, which is about getting housing out to the regions. We
have created a very clear program to boost housing in the regions. I am deeply
proud that we have thought outside the box and that we have driven innovation
through our procurement to build and grow the modular prefab and offsite
construction sector.
I
note there is a deep contrast between our side and the WA Liberals. First of
all, the Leader of the Liberal Party, with her Liberal candidates, is
out there not only spreading fear about the planning system, but also actively
opposing new housing developments. Wherever we look, there is the WA Liberal
leader and her candidates opposing housing at every opportunity. She is also
telling people fibs and incorrect information about the planning system. We are
seeing it again and again.
The second part I thought to look at
was Hon Steve Martin, who has in his title the housing and planning portfolios. He is impossible to underestimate in
terms of the policy vacuum that exists. I note a Joe Spagnolo article on the weekend that was an in-depth
interview; it is the first one that Joe is doing. It is a terrific series ,
but I think Joe's article was insightful. His interview with Steve
Martin was called ''All joking aside''. This is what Hon Steve
Martin said —
The first thing I would do on day one
of a Mettam Liberal government —
That gives you shivers —
would be to make housing top of my
priority.
I just want to make this clear. Hon
Steve Martin should come with a warning label. Can we just be clear? He said —
The first thing I would do on day one
of a Mettam Liberal government would be to make housing top of my priority.
If
the member were going to do that, do we not think that he would have released
one policy by now? Do we not think that he would have released one policy so
that he could engage industry and a range of stakeholders? This is the
arrogance of the WA Liberals and Hon
Steve Martin. It shows such a lack of respect to Western Australian voters that they say, ''We're going
to wait right until the end. We're not going to inform you; we're
not going to engage you. We're going to wait right until the end to
release some housing policies .''
What a joke for Hon Steve Martin to say it is a top priority when the party has
not released one policy to date. That side has no ideas. This side is driving
every measure to boost housing supply in Western Australia.
thank the member for his question and his commitment to boosting housing supply
across Western Australia. As we know, we are
doing everything we can to boost housing supply, whether it is in the private rental market, in social and
affordable housing or in the broader market for new homebuyers and for
existing buyers who wish to buy an established home. Of course, since 2021, we
have made a record investment of $3.2 billion in housing and homelessness
initiatives. We keep increasing the social housing target and we have made a new
target of 5 000 homes. To date, we have delivered more than 2 450 social homes
in the tightest construction market in our state's history, with
another 1 000 under contract or construction. To do that, we have had to think
outside the box. It is not just about double-brick homes. That is why there has
been a concerted effort to build homes through alternative means, whether it is
prefab, modular or small homes. If members look at what we are doing, we
engaged Summit in Spearwood to produce tiny homes built offsite and delivered
onsite to create new social homes. In Hamilton Hill are 12 units that are
timber frame homes. From the concrete pour, it takes nine months to get a home
completed. We know that in this tight construction market, that is actually
difficult to attain. We have done modular homes and modular builds with our
steel modular program, which is about getting housing out to the regions. We
have created a very clear program to boost housing in the regions. I am deeply
proud that we have thought outside the box and that we have driven innovation
through our procurement to build and grow the modular prefab and offsite
construction sector.
I
note there is a deep contrast between our side and the WA Liberals. First of
all, the Leader of the Liberal Party, with her Liberal candidates, is
out there not only spreading fear about the planning system, but also actively
opposing new housing developments. Wherever we look, there is the WA Liberal
leader and her candidates opposing housing at every opportunity. She is also
telling people fibs and incorrect information about the planning system. We are
seeing it again and again.
The second part I thought to look at
was Hon Steve Martin, who has in his title the housing and planning portfolios. He is impossible to underestimate in
terms of the policy vacuum that exists. I note a Joe Spagnolo article on the weekend that was an in-depth
interview; it is the first one that Joe is doing. It is a terrific series ,
but I think Joe's article was insightful. His interview with Steve
Martin was called ''All joking aside''. This is what Hon Steve
Martin said —
The first thing I would do on day one
of a Mettam Liberal government —
That gives you shivers —
would be to make housing top of my
priority.
I just want to make this clear. Hon
Steve Martin should come with a warning label. Can we just be clear? He said —
The first thing I would do on day one
of a Mettam Liberal government would be to make housing top of my priority.
If
the member were going to do that, do we not think that he would have released
one policy by now? Do we not think that he would have released one policy so
that he could engage industry and a range of stakeholders? This is the
arrogance of the WA Liberals and Hon
Steve Martin. It shows such a lack of respect to Western Australian voters that they say, ''We're going
to wait right until the end. We're not going to inform you; we're
not going to engage you. We're going to wait right until the end to
release some housing policies .''
What a joke for Hon Steve Martin to say it is a top priority when the party has
not released one policy to date. That side has no ideas. This side is driving
every measure to boost housing supply in Western Australia.
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