❓ Mr. Carey asks about local governments promoting housing diversity and if anyone is undermining this work. The Minister responds by praising the City of Subiaco's efforts and criticising the City of Nedlands and the Leader of the Opposition's stance on density.
AnsweredQoN 493Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PLANNING — HOUSING
DIVERSITY
493. Mr J.N. CAREY to the Minister for Planning:
I refer to the state Labor government's
commitment to promoting housing diversity that drives the local economy and
provides Western Australians the opportunity to live close to public transport
and employment.
(1) Can the
minister advise the house whether she is aware of any local governments that
are working to deliver increased activation for their community that supports
small business and creates jobs?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house whether she is aware of anyone who is seeking to
undermine this positive work?
DIVERSITY
493. Mr J.N. CAREY to the Minister for Planning:
I refer to the state Labor government's
commitment to promoting housing diversity that drives the local economy and
provides Western Australians the opportunity to live close to public transport
and employment.
(1) Can the
minister advise the house whether she is aware of any local governments that
are working to deliver increased activation for their community that supports
small business and creates jobs?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house whether she is aware of anyone who is seeking to
undermine this positive work?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for Perth for that question and for his commitment to creating
more housing diversity and support for small business in his community. This
week the City of Subiaco passed amendments to local planning scheme 5.
Basically, the City of Subiaco worked to get a position to put forward to the
state government. I welcome the work undertaken by the mayor, in particular, to
drive a decision to allow the state to then have a look at it. However, it was
very clear that it was hard work from the mayor and hard work from all the
community to get an outcome that will progress to the Western Australian
Planning Commission and also to me as minister. A lot of density is being
proposed and being agreed to, and it is density in the right places. The work
being undertaken by the government around Subiaco Oval and the old Princess
Margaret Hospital for Children site will increase vibrancy and housing
diversity and really allow density to grow in that area.
Of course, as I have always said, we
are looking at an outcome that balances the needs of the community together
with the need to continue to grow diversity and density in the right location.
The City of Subiaco put forward a plan, unlike the City of Nedlands, which
walked away from the whole process and would not
put forward an agreed plan to the state. I congratulate the work of the mayor
and administration of the City of Subiaco in putting forward a plan to
the state. I welcome that. Some in the community want to undermine that. The main culprit is the Leader of
the Opposition. The Leader of the Opposition questioned the need for
density because ''WA's population growth had flatlined''.
Business associations in the western suburbs are calling for planning certainty.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, you
might not like to hear it, but she is saying it.
Ms
R. SAFFIOTI : Something happened
this week; the City of Subiaco put forward a plan—a plan that the
Leader of the Opposition said she would revoke. She said that she would
reverse infill planning. A plan has been set forward by Subiaco, which the
Leader of the Opposition said she would turn around—remove—which
would result in more uncertainty for businesses in WA and more uncertainty for
the wider community. Does the Leader of the Opposition support the City of
Subiaco plan?
Dr D.J. Honey : It's
rubbish.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Cottesloe!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The member
for Cottesloe said it was rubbish. What we have seen from the Leader of the Opposition is a captain's call. She has
taken policy leadership from the member for Cottesloe on this issue. This week we have had the flattest opposition that I have ever seen. The member for
Churchlands has completely disengaged. The member for Bateman, who I think is a
genuinely nice person, has been trying to help by explaining state final demand
and gross state product. The member for Nedlands has sat there dazed and
confused: ''How did I get here? I don't know what I'm
doing here, but I'm here.'' The Leader of the Opposition—the
Leader of the Liberal Party!—managed to be criticised by the Chamber of
Commerce and Industry of Western Australia within a week of gaining her
position. No Leader of the Labor Party has ever achieved that outcome! The
opposition is a complete mess. Its policies are all over the place. It is the
flattest, most hopeless opposition that I have seen in this place.
thank the member for Perth for that question and for his commitment to creating
more housing diversity and support for small business in his community. This
week the City of Subiaco passed amendments to local planning scheme 5.
Basically, the City of Subiaco worked to get a position to put forward to the
state government. I welcome the work undertaken by the mayor, in particular, to
drive a decision to allow the state to then have a look at it. However, it was
very clear that it was hard work from the mayor and hard work from all the
community to get an outcome that will progress to the Western Australian
Planning Commission and also to me as minister. A lot of density is being
proposed and being agreed to, and it is density in the right places. The work
being undertaken by the government around Subiaco Oval and the old Princess
Margaret Hospital for Children site will increase vibrancy and housing
diversity and really allow density to grow in that area.
Of course, as I have always said, we
are looking at an outcome that balances the needs of the community together
with the need to continue to grow diversity and density in the right location.
The City of Subiaco put forward a plan, unlike the City of Nedlands, which
walked away from the whole process and would not
put forward an agreed plan to the state. I congratulate the work of the mayor
and administration of the City of Subiaco in putting forward a plan to
the state. I welcome that. Some in the community want to undermine that. The main culprit is the Leader of
the Opposition. The Leader of the Opposition questioned the need for
density because ''WA's population growth had flatlined''.
Business associations in the western suburbs are calling for planning certainty.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, you
might not like to hear it, but she is saying it.
Ms
R. SAFFIOTI : Something happened
this week; the City of Subiaco put forward a plan—a plan that the
Leader of the Opposition said she would revoke. She said that she would
reverse infill planning. A plan has been set forward by Subiaco, which the
Leader of the Opposition said she would turn around—remove—which
would result in more uncertainty for businesses in WA and more uncertainty for
the wider community. Does the Leader of the Opposition support the City of
Subiaco plan?
Dr D.J. Honey : It's
rubbish.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Cottesloe!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The member
for Cottesloe said it was rubbish. What we have seen from the Leader of the Opposition is a captain's call. She has
taken policy leadership from the member for Cottesloe on this issue. This week we have had the flattest opposition that I have ever seen. The member for
Churchlands has completely disengaged. The member for Bateman, who I think is a
genuinely nice person, has been trying to help by explaining state final demand
and gross state product. The member for Nedlands has sat there dazed and
confused: ''How did I get here? I don't know what I'm
doing here, but I'm here.'' The Leader of the Opposition—the
Leader of the Liberal Party!—managed to be criticised by the Chamber of
Commerce and Industry of Western Australia within a week of gaining her
position. No Leader of the Labor Party has ever achieved that outcome! The
opposition is a complete mess. Its policies are all over the place. It is the
flattest, most hopeless opposition that I have seen in this place.
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