❓ Ms. Hammat asks about the government's response to housing demand, including alternative construction methods and spot purchasing. The Minister outlines investments, homes delivered, and criticizes the opposition's lack of housing policy.
AnsweredQoN 172Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SOCIAL HOUSING — GOVERNMENT RESPONSE
172. Ms M.J. HAMMAT to the Minister for Housing:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's record investment in social housing and homelessness
services in Western Australia.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how this government is responding to the demand
for housing, including through the use of alternative construction methods and
the spot purchasing of homes?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house whether he is aware of any alternative proposals to
increase the supply of social housing in Western Australia?
172. Ms M.J. HAMMAT to the Minister for Housing:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's record investment in social housing and homelessness
services in Western Australia.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how this government is responding to the demand
for housing, including through the use of alternative construction methods and
the spot purchasing of homes?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house whether he is aware of any alternative proposals to
increase the supply of social housing in Western Australia?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for her question.
(1)–(2) As I have said before in this house, we are
acutely aware of the significant housing pressures that are facing both construction and the rental market. Of
course, Western Australia is not alone; this is being experienced across
Australia right now. But as a government, we take this responsibility very
seriously. That is why we made a record investment, with a record injection of
$875 million, of $2.4 billion over four years into social housing and
homelessness. To date, despite the toughest construction market in our state's
history, we are delivering. We have delivered 1 100 new homes to the system.
That is a fact. We have just under a thousand
under contract or construction. In February alone, we delivered just under a hundred
new homes.
We have achieved that by trying to
think outside the box about how we can accelerate the delivery of social
housing. I know I have talked about it—it is one of my favourite
programs—but we have done the timber
frame program, as well as the modular home program. That faces constraints, but
it is still delivering . Currently, we have 90 under contract or
construction. It does have an impact for regional communities. I give two
examples. For Collie, we have announced seven modular homes, four of which have
arrived in Collie and three are due in the next month. Two modular homes have
been completed in the goldfields, with another 11 to come. The modular program
is having a direct effect on these regional communities. We have also brought
in a spot purchasing program. We brought forward $60 million out of our social
housing fund. I am pleased to report today that since July 2021, 492 homes have
been spot purchased and brought into the system. This is real reform. It is
real change that is happening right now. It demonstrates our ability to
accelerate the delivery of social housing.
I note that the opposition—I
say this seriously—has not released one housing policy in six years.
That is a fact.
Ms L. Mettam : You idiots! We
had an election in there.
Mr J.N. CAREY : Yes.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please,
members!
Mr J.N. CAREY : I thank the
member for her interjection. Please state a housing policy from the last
election.
Ms L. Mettam : We had them.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please,
members!
Mr J.N. CAREY : I find it
interesting that the member for Vasse interjects —
Ms L. Mettam : I find it
interesting that you boast about two houses in Kalgoorlie!
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse, you did not ask this question. I appreciate that the minister has
responded to your interjection, but I would ask the minister to move on and
complete his answer, please.
Mr
J.N. CAREY : I thank the Speaker.
I note that the member could not state one housing policy. When the shadow housing minister was asked, he said, ''I think that we should do
maintenance.'' That is the opposition's public statement. There
has not been one policy statement. The Leader of the Liberal Party cannot name
a housing policy when pressed.
It is very clear from this data that
we have accelerated the delivery of social housing in Western Australia and
that our modular and timber frame programs and our spot purchasing program are
having an effect in boosting social housing supply.
(1)–(2) As I have said before in this house, we are
acutely aware of the significant housing pressures that are facing both construction and the rental market. Of
course, Western Australia is not alone; this is being experienced across
Australia right now. But as a government, we take this responsibility very
seriously. That is why we made a record investment, with a record injection of
$875 million, of $2.4 billion over four years into social housing and
homelessness. To date, despite the toughest construction market in our state's
history, we are delivering. We have delivered 1 100 new homes to the system.
That is a fact. We have just under a thousand
under contract or construction. In February alone, we delivered just under a hundred
new homes.
We have achieved that by trying to
think outside the box about how we can accelerate the delivery of social
housing. I know I have talked about it—it is one of my favourite
programs—but we have done the timber
frame program, as well as the modular home program. That faces constraints, but
it is still delivering . Currently, we have 90 under contract or
construction. It does have an impact for regional communities. I give two
examples. For Collie, we have announced seven modular homes, four of which have
arrived in Collie and three are due in the next month. Two modular homes have
been completed in the goldfields, with another 11 to come. The modular program
is having a direct effect on these regional communities. We have also brought
in a spot purchasing program. We brought forward $60 million out of our social
housing fund. I am pleased to report today that since July 2021, 492 homes have
been spot purchased and brought into the system. This is real reform. It is
real change that is happening right now. It demonstrates our ability to
accelerate the delivery of social housing.
I note that the opposition—I
say this seriously—has not released one housing policy in six years.
That is a fact.
Ms L. Mettam : You idiots! We
had an election in there.
Mr J.N. CAREY : Yes.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please,
members!
Mr J.N. CAREY : I thank the
member for her interjection. Please state a housing policy from the last
election.
Ms L. Mettam : We had them.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please,
members!
Mr J.N. CAREY : I find it
interesting that the member for Vasse interjects —
Ms L. Mettam : I find it
interesting that you boast about two houses in Kalgoorlie!
The SPEAKER : Member for
Vasse, you did not ask this question. I appreciate that the minister has
responded to your interjection, but I would ask the minister to move on and
complete his answer, please.
Mr
J.N. CAREY : I thank the Speaker.
I note that the member could not state one housing policy. When the shadow housing minister was asked, he said, ''I think that we should do
maintenance.'' That is the opposition's public statement. There
has not been one policy statement. The Leader of the Liberal Party cannot name
a housing policy when pressed.
It is very clear from this data that
we have accelerated the delivery of social housing in Western Australia and
that our modular and timber frame programs and our spot purchasing program are
having an effect in boosting social housing supply.
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