❓ Minister outlines social and affordable housing initiatives, highlighting collaboration with the federal government and criticising opposition's stance on planning reform. Focus on project progress and addressing housing pressures.
AnsweredQoN 374Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Social and affordable housing
374. Mrs Lisa O'Malley to
the Minister for Housing and Works:
I refer to the
series of significant social and affordable housing announcements made by the
Cook Labor government.
(1) Can the minister outline to the house how the
Cook Labor government is partnering with the federal government to deliver more
social and affordable housing?
(2) Is the minister aware of anyone who does not
want more social and affordable housing in Western Australia?
374. Mrs Lisa O'Malley to
the Minister for Housing and Works:
I refer to the
series of significant social and affordable housing announcements made by the
Cook Labor government.
(1) Can the minister outline to the house how the
Cook Labor government is partnering with the federal government to deliver more
social and affordable housing?
(2) Is the minister aware of anyone who does not
want more social and affordable housing in Western Australia?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) Yes, I am aware! It is surprising.
I thank the member for her question. As I have always said, we know that we
face unprecedented times in relation to housing. Every state across the nation
is facing pressures in both the housing construction market and the rental market.
Through our record $5.8 billion social and affordable housing programs, Western
Australia is leading the nation. We can look to both our housing approvals and completions and our general housing
policy settings. The Housing Industry Association has recognised that we
are in the top states for our policy settings to enable and accelerate housing
supply.
I am really pleased that our
hard work is paying off. Some of these projects do take time because they are
big and they are bold. We have had momentum in the last few months. Nearly a
thousand new social and affordable homes have been announced or are underway,
including the Smith Street build-to-rent project, with 109 apartments; Court
Place, with 447 apartments; East Street, 34 apartments; Fraser Suites, 236
apartments; North Coogee, 38 apartments; St James, 38 apartments; Ardross, 20
apartments; Stirling, 15 units; and Ellenbrook, 14 units. All those social and
affordable housing projects are helping to boost supply and create homes for
our most vulnerable. We also have big urban renewal projects in Brownlie
Towers, Stirling Towers and Beaconsfield, all left by the former Liberal
government. The towers were vacant shells, but we are turning that around. The Lefroy
redevelopment in Beaconsfield will create 700 homes. I took Channel Seven out there
in the last week. Brownlie Towers will have 800 new homes. This is a demonstration
of how our long-term projects are paying off.
It caught me by surprise, but as
we know, the Leader of the Liberal Party is on a listening tour. He says that
he is out there everywhere. He went down to the South West and made an
observation about housing, planning and land supply. He said:
The process takes longer (with)
green tape, red tape (and) other regulation that gets in the way."
One would think that he has
taken a position that he would support planning reform in Western Australia, but
what does "Bob-two" Basil do?
Several members
interjected.
Mr John Carey: I should have said "Two-bob"
Basil! It sounds like a conga—bow chicka wow wow! What does he do? He
backs in an inquiry that actually aims to increase red tape on planning and
land.
Mr Basil Zempilas: Says who?
Mr John Carey: Wait a minute; I will take that
interjection. I love your interjections! Hon Neil Thomson has made it explicit
that he wants to change the development assessment panel system to increase red
tape. You are backing him in.
Mr Basil Zempilas: He hasn't said that at all.
Mr John Carey: Is that not your position?
Mr Basil Zempilas: That is not what he said.
Mr John Carey: Yes, he has—on the record.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr John Carey: He gets very agitated, doesn't he? I
will say this: what is very clear is that this Leader of the Liberal Party is a
commentator. He goes to one group and says—
Mr Basil Zempilas: You didn't have any for four
years; you can't handle scrutiny.
Mr John Carey: Wait a minute! The Leader of the
Liberal Party just said that we did not have scrutiny in the Parliament for
four years. Wow! Could the member for Roe please tell me whether we had any
scrutiny?
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
Mr John Carey: He is pulling it back—"I've
done it wrong"!
The Speaker: Minister, have you finished? If you could
conclude your comments, minister, that would be appreciated.
Mr John Carey: We have had two confirmations today. First
of all, he has acknowledged and condemned the previous Liberal opposition for
not providing any scrutiny for four years.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members of the opposition!
Mr John Carey: It is not surprising when he
commissioned secret polling against the former Liberal leader. Secondly, we
have a Liberal leader who says different things to different people. He goes to
industry and says, "I'm going to cut red tape." He goes to NIMBY
groups and backs in Hon Neil Thomson and says, "We're going to put more
red tape on housing." There is a clear difference. That side has no policy
on housing. It cannot decide what it is doing on
planning reform. It is only this side of the house that is driving policy to
accelerate the delivery of housing.
I thank the member for her question. As I have always said, we know that we
face unprecedented times in relation to housing. Every state across the nation
is facing pressures in both the housing construction market and the rental market.
Through our record $5.8 billion social and affordable housing programs, Western
Australia is leading the nation. We can look to both our housing approvals and completions and our general housing
policy settings. The Housing Industry Association has recognised that we
are in the top states for our policy settings to enable and accelerate housing
supply.
I am really pleased that our
hard work is paying off. Some of these projects do take time because they are
big and they are bold. We have had momentum in the last few months. Nearly a
thousand new social and affordable homes have been announced or are underway,
including the Smith Street build-to-rent project, with 109 apartments; Court
Place, with 447 apartments; East Street, 34 apartments; Fraser Suites, 236
apartments; North Coogee, 38 apartments; St James, 38 apartments; Ardross, 20
apartments; Stirling, 15 units; and Ellenbrook, 14 units. All those social and
affordable housing projects are helping to boost supply and create homes for
our most vulnerable. We also have big urban renewal projects in Brownlie
Towers, Stirling Towers and Beaconsfield, all left by the former Liberal
government. The towers were vacant shells, but we are turning that around. The Lefroy
redevelopment in Beaconsfield will create 700 homes. I took Channel Seven out there
in the last week. Brownlie Towers will have 800 new homes. This is a demonstration
of how our long-term projects are paying off.
It caught me by surprise, but as
we know, the Leader of the Liberal Party is on a listening tour. He says that
he is out there everywhere. He went down to the South West and made an
observation about housing, planning and land supply. He said:
The process takes longer (with)
green tape, red tape (and) other regulation that gets in the way."
One would think that he has
taken a position that he would support planning reform in Western Australia, but
what does "Bob-two" Basil do?
Several members
interjected.
Mr John Carey: I should have said "Two-bob"
Basil! It sounds like a conga—bow chicka wow wow! What does he do? He
backs in an inquiry that actually aims to increase red tape on planning and
land.
Mr Basil Zempilas: Says who?
Mr John Carey: Wait a minute; I will take that
interjection. I love your interjections! Hon Neil Thomson has made it explicit
that he wants to change the development assessment panel system to increase red
tape. You are backing him in.
Mr Basil Zempilas: He hasn't said that at all.
Mr John Carey: Is that not your position?
Mr Basil Zempilas: That is not what he said.
Mr John Carey: Yes, he has—on the record.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr John Carey: He gets very agitated, doesn't he? I
will say this: what is very clear is that this Leader of the Liberal Party is a
commentator. He goes to one group and says—
Mr Basil Zempilas: You didn't have any for four
years; you can't handle scrutiny.
Mr John Carey: Wait a minute! The Leader of the
Liberal Party just said that we did not have scrutiny in the Parliament for
four years. Wow! Could the member for Roe please tell me whether we had any
scrutiny?
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
Mr John Carey: He is pulling it back—"I've
done it wrong"!
The Speaker: Minister, have you finished? If you could
conclude your comments, minister, that would be appreciated.
Mr John Carey: We have had two confirmations today. First
of all, he has acknowledged and condemned the previous Liberal opposition for
not providing any scrutiny for four years.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members of the opposition!
Mr John Carey: It is not surprising when he
commissioned secret polling against the former Liberal leader. Secondly, we
have a Liberal leader who says different things to different people. He goes to
industry and says, "I'm going to cut red tape." He goes to NIMBY
groups and backs in Hon Neil Thomson and says, "We're going to put more
red tape on housing." There is a clear difference. That side has no policy
on housing. It cannot decide what it is doing on
planning reform. It is only this side of the house that is driving policy to
accelerate the delivery of housing.
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