❓ The Leader of the Opposition questions the Premier about the sale of government-owned properties, suggesting it's a 'fire sale' that devalues the land. The Premier refutes this, outlining a staged and orderly process for selling surplus properties to encourage redevelopment and reinvestment.
AnsweredQoN 757Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
GOVERNMENT-OWNED
PROPERTIES — SALE
757. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Premier:
I refer to the unprecedented fire
sale announced today of prime real estate across the metropolitan area. By
announcing this fire sale of 20 prime properties, has the government not
devalued this land by signalling its urgency and desperation to sell?
PROPERTIES — SALE
757. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Premier:
I refer to the unprecedented fire
sale announced today of prime real estate across the metropolitan area. By
announcing this fire sale of 20 prime properties, has the government not
devalued this land by signalling its urgency and desperation to sell?
AnswerView source ↗
How could any sensible person assume there is a fire sale? It
is an absurd notion. As I am sure the Minister for Lands can convey more
accurately than I can, there are something like 140 000 properties under
government ownership—140 000 land titles. That is an extraordinary
number—and, also, I think over 400 have been identified as surplus to
government requirements either now or into the future. Much of that land is
prime real estate in inner-city areas. Why leave it vacant?
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Warnbro, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
This morning, the Minister for Lands and I released an initial list of 20
properties that will be sold. Some can be sold almost immediately, if there is
no complication. Others have complications. Some have buildings with heritage
listings, which need to be respected, and some will perhaps be rezoned to
higher value uses. Others may be divided into parts that may be retained and
parts that may be sold; some may even have some contamination issues. There is an
orderly process. Those 20 properties will go onto the market progressively. It
will probably take two to three years for them to be sold. In the meantime,
other properties will be put on the market. What will that mean? That will mean
redevelopment and reinvestment. Some will be residential subdivision, some will
be medium density or high-rise apartments and some will be commercial business
developments. Some heritage properties that have been vacant for years will
come back to life. They will retain their heritage values but will be
revitalised for public and community use. I think it is a good policy.
Mr M. McGowan : It
is a fire sale—all at once.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Fire sale, fire sale! The Leader of the Opposition has a slogan but he has no
intelligent comment to make.
is an absurd notion. As I am sure the Minister for Lands can convey more
accurately than I can, there are something like 140 000 properties under
government ownership—140 000 land titles. That is an extraordinary
number—and, also, I think over 400 have been identified as surplus to
government requirements either now or into the future. Much of that land is
prime real estate in inner-city areas. Why leave it vacant?
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Warnbro, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
This morning, the Minister for Lands and I released an initial list of 20
properties that will be sold. Some can be sold almost immediately, if there is
no complication. Others have complications. Some have buildings with heritage
listings, which need to be respected, and some will perhaps be rezoned to
higher value uses. Others may be divided into parts that may be retained and
parts that may be sold; some may even have some contamination issues. There is an
orderly process. Those 20 properties will go onto the market progressively. It
will probably take two to three years for them to be sold. In the meantime,
other properties will be put on the market. What will that mean? That will mean
redevelopment and reinvestment. Some will be residential subdivision, some will
be medium density or high-rise apartments and some will be commercial business
developments. Some heritage properties that have been vacant for years will
come back to life. They will retain their heritage values but will be
revitalised for public and community use. I think it is a good policy.
Mr M. McGowan : It
is a fire sale—all at once.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Fire sale, fire sale! The Leader of the Opposition has a slogan but he has no
intelligent comment to make.
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