❓ Ms. Davies questions the Minister for Housing on the government's response to rental unaffordability, citing Anglicare WA's report. The Minister defends the government's actions, highlighting initiatives to boost housing supply and acknowledging external pressures.
AnsweredQoN 440Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HOUSING — AVAILABILITY
440. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Minister for Housing:
I refer to Anglicare WA's
annual rental affordability snapshot released earlier this year, which revealed
that rents were up 16 per cent compared with 2023 and 35 per cent since 2022,
with only 77 more properties available across the state than were available at
the same time in 2023. How can the minister and his government continually say
that they are doing everything possible when there are no houses available to
rent or those that are available are simply unaffordable?
440. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Minister for Housing:
I refer to Anglicare WA's
annual rental affordability snapshot released earlier this year, which revealed
that rents were up 16 per cent compared with 2023 and 35 per cent since 2022,
with only 77 more properties available across the state than were available at
the same time in 2023. How can the minister and his government continually say
that they are doing everything possible when there are no houses available to
rent or those that are available are simply unaffordable?
AnswerView source ↗
I
thank the member for her question. As I have said repeatedly in this chamber,
as a government, we take the issue of our
housing and rental markets very seriously. Unfortunately, we are not alone;
every state in the country is impacted by housing and rental pressures.
We know that. When we speak to industry stakeholders, they tell us that COVID
radically reshaped our housing market, with skilled labour shortages, global
supply chain issues, cost escalations and, of course, Perth facing
unprecedented demand from people who are deciding to move to Western Australia.
We know that it is tough, but we also know that Western Australia still remains
relatively affordable in comparison with other states.
We are introducing a vast number of
measures to boost housing supply, because, ultimately, that is the answer. They include our record investment in social
housing, through which we have delivered more than 2 200 social homes to
date, with another thousand under contract or construction. There is also our
tough approach to short-term rentals and our financial incentives to get homes
back into the market. I note that 200 have flowed back into the private market
to date. There is our $5 000 cash incentive for vacant homes, our tax reform
around build to rent, our infrastructure fund and our rental relief scheme,
which provides up to $5 000 to keep people in their homes. I note that
Anglicare and the social housing sector have acknowledged the work of this
government. I do not have a direct quote, but Anglicare in fact said it was the
budget that it had been waiting for. Mark Glasson said that himself, the head
of the organisation the member just quoted. We are doing everything we can to
boost housing supply, and that is demonstrated in the large number of
initiatives that we are rolling out as a government.
thank the member for her question. As I have said repeatedly in this chamber,
as a government, we take the issue of our
housing and rental markets very seriously. Unfortunately, we are not alone;
every state in the country is impacted by housing and rental pressures.
We know that. When we speak to industry stakeholders, they tell us that COVID
radically reshaped our housing market, with skilled labour shortages, global
supply chain issues, cost escalations and, of course, Perth facing
unprecedented demand from people who are deciding to move to Western Australia.
We know that it is tough, but we also know that Western Australia still remains
relatively affordable in comparison with other states.
We are introducing a vast number of
measures to boost housing supply, because, ultimately, that is the answer. They include our record investment in social
housing, through which we have delivered more than 2 200 social homes to
date, with another thousand under contract or construction. There is also our
tough approach to short-term rentals and our financial incentives to get homes
back into the market. I note that 200 have flowed back into the private market
to date. There is our $5 000 cash incentive for vacant homes, our tax reform
around build to rent, our infrastructure fund and our rental relief scheme,
which provides up to $5 000 to keep people in their homes. I note that
Anglicare and the social housing sector have acknowledged the work of this
government. I do not have a direct quote, but Anglicare in fact said it was the
budget that it had been waiting for. Mark Glasson said that himself, the head
of the organisation the member just quoted. We are doing everything we can to
boost housing supply, and that is demonstrated in the large number of
initiatives that we are rolling out as a government.
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