❓ Mr. Logan questions the Premier regarding $250 million spent on housing in the Pilbara, alleging wasteful expenditure. The Premier defends the investment, citing improved affordability and future growth.
AnsweredQoN 470Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HOUSING — PILBARA
470. Mr F.M. LOGAN to the Premier:
My question is not about
fire-breathing spiders!
I refer to the quarter of a billion
dollars squandered by the Premier's government on vacant apartments and
barren land developments in Port Hedland and South Hedland while families are
on a two-year waitlist to get a roof over their heads.
(1) Does the
Premier of Western Australia take any responsibility for the $250 million worth
of wasteful, ill-timed and ill-planned expenditure?
(2) Why did
cabinet approve this expenditure when house prices were already in rapid
decline?
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
B.J. Grylls interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr
F.M. LOGAN : I will continue with my question —
(3) Will the
Premier now demand a full and thorough investigation into how so much of
taxpayers' money has been burnt by successive Liberal and National
housing ministers; and, if not, why not?
470. Mr F.M. LOGAN to the Premier:
My question is not about
fire-breathing spiders!
I refer to the quarter of a billion
dollars squandered by the Premier's government on vacant apartments and
barren land developments in Port Hedland and South Hedland while families are
on a two-year waitlist to get a roof over their heads.
(1) Does the
Premier of Western Australia take any responsibility for the $250 million worth
of wasteful, ill-timed and ill-planned expenditure?
(2) Why did
cabinet approve this expenditure when house prices were already in rapid
decline?
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
B.J. Grylls interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr
F.M. LOGAN : I will continue with my question —
(3) Will the
Premier now demand a full and thorough investigation into how so much of
taxpayers' money has been burnt by successive Liberal and National
housing ministers; and, if not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) I think members of
this house —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members, that is enough!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
think members of this house are well aware of the recent history of towns in
the Pilbara, both Port Hedland and Karratha, and there is a complete
transformation of those towns. Indeed, when we came to government and shortly
after, house prices and accommodation costs were completely off the planet. It
cost $2 000 to $3 000 to rent very humble premises. We invested as a government,
and we also invested in accommodation for workers in non-resource industries.
Sure, the market has slowed and the mining industry has slowed—it is
still an incredibly strong industry, but it has slowed down—and house
prices have fallen. Obviously, a number of people are feeling that; the value
of their properties has fallen. But now manageable and affordable rental
accommodation can be obtained in the Pilbara.
Mr F.M. Logan interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Cockburn, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Accommodation is now affordable in the Pilbara, and as the resources industry
again gathers strength, which it is doing, we will see that accommodation
progressively filled. The industry is cyclical, therefore the region is
cyclical. I do not apologise. I take responsibility as Premier for everything
this government does, but I do not apologise for that. This government has made
an enormous investment in regional Western Australia, particularly the Pilbara.
What happened in the Pilbara during the opposition's years in
government? Nothing—absolutely nothing. Port Hedland and Karratha now
have a future. As the resources industry gains more momentum, that
accommodation will be filled. The previous government did nothing, and did not
go to the other side of the Darling scarp. Members opposite should look and
watch.
this house —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members, that is enough!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
think members of this house are well aware of the recent history of towns in
the Pilbara, both Port Hedland and Karratha, and there is a complete
transformation of those towns. Indeed, when we came to government and shortly
after, house prices and accommodation costs were completely off the planet. It
cost $2 000 to $3 000 to rent very humble premises. We invested as a government,
and we also invested in accommodation for workers in non-resource industries.
Sure, the market has slowed and the mining industry has slowed—it is
still an incredibly strong industry, but it has slowed down—and house
prices have fallen. Obviously, a number of people are feeling that; the value
of their properties has fallen. But now manageable and affordable rental
accommodation can be obtained in the Pilbara.
Mr F.M. Logan interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Cockburn, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Accommodation is now affordable in the Pilbara, and as the resources industry
again gathers strength, which it is doing, we will see that accommodation
progressively filled. The industry is cyclical, therefore the region is
cyclical. I do not apologise. I take responsibility as Premier for everything
this government does, but I do not apologise for that. This government has made
an enormous investment in regional Western Australia, particularly the Pilbara.
What happened in the Pilbara during the opposition's years in
government? Nothing—absolutely nothing. Port Hedland and Karratha now
have a future. As the resources industry gains more momentum, that
accommodation will be filled. The previous government did nothing, and did not
go to the other side of the Darling scarp. Members opposite should look and
watch.
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