❓ Mr. Baker questions the Premier on housing supply strategies. The Premier details government initiatives, including stamp duty changes, apprentice support, and TAFE investment, while criticising the opposition's lack of housing policies.
AnsweredQoN 338Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HOUSING — SUPPLY
338. Mr G. BAKER to the Premier:
I refer to the record demand for
housing being faced across the nation.
Ms R. Saffioti interjected.
The SPEAKER : Sorry, member
for South Perth, just pause. Treasurer, I would like to hear the question.
Mr
G. BAKER : I refer to the record demand for housing being faced
across the nation, including in Western Australia.
(1) Can the
Premier advise the house how this government is working to grow our housing
construction workforce, build more homes and increase supply in the rental
market?
(2) Can the
Premier advise the house whether he is aware of anyone who does not support the
government's strong actions to increase housing supply?
338. Mr G. BAKER to the Premier:
I refer to the record demand for
housing being faced across the nation.
Ms R. Saffioti interjected.
The SPEAKER : Sorry, member
for South Perth, just pause. Treasurer, I would like to hear the question.
Mr
G. BAKER : I refer to the record demand for housing being faced
across the nation, including in Western Australia.
(1) Can the
Premier advise the house how this government is working to grow our housing
construction workforce, build more homes and increase supply in the rental
market?
(2) Can the
Premier advise the house whether he is aware of anyone who does not support the
government's strong actions to increase housing supply?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for his question and for his support for our ongoing efforts
to make sure that we do three important things. We are continuing to resolve
issues around the cost of living and supporting Western Australians, and our
$462 million program in the budget is an important part of that. But as the
member knows, it is important that we continue to lean heavily into our housing
challenges at the moment, but also continue to invest strongly in health care
with our $3.2 billion healthcare initiatives. We want every Western Australian
to have the opportunity to buy a home they can afford. We know that people are
coming to Western Australia in droves because of our strong economy and
enviable lifestyle. That is putting unprecedented pressure on our housing
market.
My government is throwing everything
at housing supply and housing affordability. Last week, we announced an overhaul of stamp duty concessions
for first home buyers in WA to help Western Australians get their foot
in the door. It has been a decade since similar changes were made. These
changes will mean that Western Australians
buying their first home will pay no stamp duty on purchases of existing
properties worth up to $450 000 or they will receive a concessional
stamp duty rate on properties up to the value of $600 000. It means that a first
home buyer purchasing a $450 000 property will save over $15 000 under these
changes. A first home buyer purchasing a $530 000 home will save $7 000. These
changes will deliver real savings for Western Australians. They will add to a suite
of initiatives that we have in place for first home buyers. That includes the
first home owner grant, which provides $10 000 to first home buyers who are
building a new residential property. It also includes our stamp duty
concessions for vacant land purchases for first home buyers.
We know that the key to housing affordability
is of course bringing more houses onto the market. That means getting more
tradies on the tools to deliver the significant pipeline of homes that we need.
That is why we are providing a $52.3 million funding boost to encourage more
apprentices into good jobs in the building and construction industry. This will
deliver $1 000 milestone payments for tradies in training to mark each year of their apprenticeship, helping
them complete their training. We are increasing the employer grant base
rate to encourage local builders to take on 600 new apprentices, increasing the
number of labourers on the job building residential homes. These new
initiatives will help to make sure we have the workers we need to deliver more
housing.
We are delivering a record investment
in TAFE. What was the Liberal and National Parties' record when it came
to TAFE? It increased fees by 510 per cent and oversaw a 25 per cent drop in
enrolment. Which government has ever seen a drop in providing opportunities for
people to train and get the skills they need for
the future? The Liberal and National Parties made no real investment in WA TAFE
campus and training facilities. Only a WA Labor government supports TAFE
and training. We are serious about tackling the pressures on the housing
market, but we know that the Liberal Party and those opposite are not. They do
not have a single serious housing policy. They did not support our granny flat
reforms. They supported the closure of safe night spaces. They did not support
the WA rent relief program. They said that the builders' support
facility would not work and they said that the short-term rental accommodation
subsidy, which has now delivered over 160 additional homes to the long-term
rental market, would not work.
The fact is that our government is
taking action on housing and our approach is welcomed by industry. Our budget,
announced last week, included a $1.1 billion investment in housing supply and
affordability. It brings our new investment in housing since 2021 to over $3.2 billion.
We are growing our workforce, building more homes, getting more homes on the
rental market and helping Western Australians get into their first home because
we will always do what is right for WA.
thank the member for his question and for his support for our ongoing efforts
to make sure that we do three important things. We are continuing to resolve
issues around the cost of living and supporting Western Australians, and our
$462 million program in the budget is an important part of that. But as the
member knows, it is important that we continue to lean heavily into our housing
challenges at the moment, but also continue to invest strongly in health care
with our $3.2 billion healthcare initiatives. We want every Western Australian
to have the opportunity to buy a home they can afford. We know that people are
coming to Western Australia in droves because of our strong economy and
enviable lifestyle. That is putting unprecedented pressure on our housing
market.
My government is throwing everything
at housing supply and housing affordability. Last week, we announced an overhaul of stamp duty concessions
for first home buyers in WA to help Western Australians get their foot
in the door. It has been a decade since similar changes were made. These
changes will mean that Western Australians
buying their first home will pay no stamp duty on purchases of existing
properties worth up to $450 000 or they will receive a concessional
stamp duty rate on properties up to the value of $600 000. It means that a first
home buyer purchasing a $450 000 property will save over $15 000 under these
changes. A first home buyer purchasing a $530 000 home will save $7 000. These
changes will deliver real savings for Western Australians. They will add to a suite
of initiatives that we have in place for first home buyers. That includes the
first home owner grant, which provides $10 000 to first home buyers who are
building a new residential property. It also includes our stamp duty
concessions for vacant land purchases for first home buyers.
We know that the key to housing affordability
is of course bringing more houses onto the market. That means getting more
tradies on the tools to deliver the significant pipeline of homes that we need.
That is why we are providing a $52.3 million funding boost to encourage more
apprentices into good jobs in the building and construction industry. This will
deliver $1 000 milestone payments for tradies in training to mark each year of their apprenticeship, helping
them complete their training. We are increasing the employer grant base
rate to encourage local builders to take on 600 new apprentices, increasing the
number of labourers on the job building residential homes. These new
initiatives will help to make sure we have the workers we need to deliver more
housing.
We are delivering a record investment
in TAFE. What was the Liberal and National Parties' record when it came
to TAFE? It increased fees by 510 per cent and oversaw a 25 per cent drop in
enrolment. Which government has ever seen a drop in providing opportunities for
people to train and get the skills they need for
the future? The Liberal and National Parties made no real investment in WA TAFE
campus and training facilities. Only a WA Labor government supports TAFE
and training. We are serious about tackling the pressures on the housing
market, but we know that the Liberal Party and those opposite are not. They do
not have a single serious housing policy. They did not support our granny flat
reforms. They supported the closure of safe night spaces. They did not support
the WA rent relief program. They said that the builders' support
facility would not work and they said that the short-term rental accommodation
subsidy, which has now delivered over 160 additional homes to the long-term
rental market, would not work.
The fact is that our government is
taking action on housing and our approach is welcomed by industry. Our budget,
announced last week, included a $1.1 billion investment in housing supply and
affordability. It brings our new investment in housing since 2021 to over $3.2 billion.
We are growing our workforce, building more homes, getting more homes on the
rental market and helping Western Australians get into their first home because
we will always do what is right for WA.
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