❓ Ms. Giddens asks about the impact of the McGowan government's support for WA homeowners, particularly through Keystart. Minister Carey responds positively, highlighting increased borrowing limits, relaxed eligibility, and a surge in first home owner loans.
AnsweredQoN 62Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HOUSING — KEYSTART
62. Ms K.E. GIDDENS to the Minister for Housing:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's unprecedented support for Western Australian home owners,
which has included a significant boost to Keystart. Can the minister update the
house on how the work of the McGowan Labor government is helping more Western Australians
get into their first home, in particular those on low to moderate incomes?
62. Ms K.E. GIDDENS to the Minister for Housing:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's unprecedented support for Western Australian home owners,
which has included a significant boost to Keystart. Can the minister update the
house on how the work of the McGowan Labor government is helping more Western Australians
get into their first home, in particular those on low to moderate incomes?
AnswerView source ↗
I
thank the member for the question—her first question in this house—and
bear with me because my training wheels may fall off!
Several members interjected.
Mr
J.N. CAREY : It is fair to say
that for many Western Australians, it is a major milestone, a first dream, to
own their own home. I am proud to be part of a government that is genuinely
committed to achieving that aspiration to get that first foot through the door.
Keystart is an obvious vehicle for doing that because it enables Western Australians
who, given the hurdle of the first deposit, might not otherwise be able to get
their home. That is why I am proud that we have enhanced the capacity of
Keystart to enable many more Western Australians to get their first home. We
have increased the borrowing limit with an extra $243 million on the books to
enable more Western Australians to borrow.
We have also changed the eligibility
requirements. We have lifted the threshold for both singles and couples. The dividend, the result, is very clear. Reports
already indicate that from the last financial year there has been a 144 per
cent increase in the number of loans.
It is estimated that this financial year there will be 4 000 new loans. Most
important , 81 per cent of those new customers will be first home owners.
These are great results.
I want to say also that the regions
will also have their fair share: $200 million of those new loans are for homes
in the regions. It is supported and complemented by our $114 million Regional
Land Booster program, which is about releasing more affordable land into
regional markets. Those who are not eligible for Keystart are still seizing the
opportunity. As the Premier reported to Parliament, we have seen extraordinary
results with record growth with more than 23
000 building approvals in the past 12 months. These are incredible figures, and
I am proud to say that this clearly demonstrates that our WA Recovery
Plan is working in that we have created a pipeline of work; secured and
protected jobs of 65 000 workers in the residential construction sector; and,
of course, and, most important, enabled thousands and thousands of new Western Australians
to achieve that first dream home.
thank the member for the question—her first question in this house—and
bear with me because my training wheels may fall off!
Several members interjected.
Mr
J.N. CAREY : It is fair to say
that for many Western Australians, it is a major milestone, a first dream, to
own their own home. I am proud to be part of a government that is genuinely
committed to achieving that aspiration to get that first foot through the door.
Keystart is an obvious vehicle for doing that because it enables Western Australians
who, given the hurdle of the first deposit, might not otherwise be able to get
their home. That is why I am proud that we have enhanced the capacity of
Keystart to enable many more Western Australians to get their first home. We
have increased the borrowing limit with an extra $243 million on the books to
enable more Western Australians to borrow.
We have also changed the eligibility
requirements. We have lifted the threshold for both singles and couples. The dividend, the result, is very clear. Reports
already indicate that from the last financial year there has been a 144 per
cent increase in the number of loans.
It is estimated that this financial year there will be 4 000 new loans. Most
important , 81 per cent of those new customers will be first home owners.
These are great results.
I want to say also that the regions
will also have their fair share: $200 million of those new loans are for homes
in the regions. It is supported and complemented by our $114 million Regional
Land Booster program, which is about releasing more affordable land into
regional markets. Those who are not eligible for Keystart are still seizing the
opportunity. As the Premier reported to Parliament, we have seen extraordinary
results with record growth with more than 23
000 building approvals in the past 12 months. These are incredible figures, and
I am proud to say that this clearly demonstrates that our WA Recovery
Plan is working in that we have created a pipeline of work; secured and
protected jobs of 65 000 workers in the residential construction sector; and,
of course, and, most important, enabled thousands and thousands of new Western Australians
to achieve that first dream home.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.