❓ The Premier outlines initiatives to increase housing supply and diversity in WA, focusing on streamlining planning processes and reducing red tape. Reforms aim to address housing affordability challenges and boost investor confidence.
AnsweredQoN 763Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HOUSING — AFFORDABILITY
763. Mrs M.R. MARSHALL to the Premier:
I
refer to the Cook Labor government's significant efforts to deliver
more affordable homes for Western Australians.
(1) Can the Premier outline to the house how this
government's initiatives will facilitate the delivery of more housing?
(2) Can the
Premier advise the house how these initiatives will create more options and
diversity in housing across the state?
763. Mrs M.R. MARSHALL to the Premier:
I
refer to the Cook Labor government's significant efforts to deliver
more affordable homes for Western Australians.
(1) Can the Premier outline to the house how this
government's initiatives will facilitate the delivery of more housing?
(2) Can the
Premier advise the house how these initiatives will create more options and
diversity in housing across the state?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for the question. It is a very important one. Before I answer
it, I start by thanking the volunteer and career firefighters of the Corrigin
area who were able to respond to yesterday's early-season fire and also
health staff at Corrigin Hospital who were able to evacuate the patients and
anyone who was in danger yesterday. We hope it was not a portent of the
upcoming bushfire season. We are very much grateful, once again, to first
responders and emergency workers who were able to deal with that situation so
well.
I
think it is fair to say that in addition to the member for Rockingham, most
people in this chamber would agree that we need more houses and
apartments. Most people would agree that supply is the biggest issue facing the
property market, not just in Western Australia, but, indeed, in the entire
country. I think most people would also agree that an efficient planning system
is a fundamental part of boosting supply faster—most.
The government is doing everything it
can to increase supply, and this morning I joined Minister Carey to announce
yet another initiative aimed at boosting housing supply and cutting red tape—planning reform that is important to ensure that we
get the supply of housing that our economy needs. I thank all the
representatives who joined us there this morning to add their voice of support.
They were the Property Council of Australia, the Urban Development Institute of
Australia, Shelter WA, the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia, the
Planning Institute of Australia and Housing Choices Australia.
Our planning reforms were introduced
into Parliament earlier today and have a single objective; it is about building
more homes. We know that if we can streamline the pathway for housing
construction, more Western Australians can get the opportunity to have shelter
and a home. In addition, it is also economic reform
that will give investors more certainty to put capital into projects. Our
planning reforms are broad, but I would like to highlight five key
features—establishing a permanent unit to assess significant developments; ensuring single houses are assessed
efficiently by local governments; reforming development assessment
panels, reducing their number from five to three; optimising planning processes
to cut red tape and remove duplicated processes; and reforming the Western Australian
Planning Commission. These initiatives
respond to the agreed outcomes from national cabinet to address housing supply,
including the National Housing Accord and the national planning reform
blueprint. They respond to significant community and industry consultation over
the past six years. It is also economic reform because, as we know, when investors have confidence, projects
will be approved in a reasonable time frame and according to clear rules, and they are more likely to
proceed. Delays in approvals cost money and can be the difference between something going ahead or not. These reforms also build on the
government's record $2.6 billion investment in housing and homelessness
that includes funding to build 4 000 new social builds.
This is a significant reform. It is
about making sure that we take the opportunity to do everything we can to
improve the availability of housing and the diversity of housing to make sure
that we have more housing options for people
going forward. As a result of that, it means we can address the challenges in
our housing supply that all states in Australia are experiencing but
that we are experiencing much more because many people are coming to Western Australia
to benefit from our strong economy.
I note a couple of the comments that
were made by people at the press conference today. I want members to note their
important words. Sandra Brewer from the Property Council said that this could
be the start of WA's big home build. Cath Hart, the CEO of REIWA, said
that these reforms, which are aimed to cut red tape and reduce delays, will be
welcomed by the community because they will allow more houses coming to the
people of WA sooner. The CEO of UDIA, Tanya Steinbeck, said that the state
government has shown that it is listening
and it understands the dire need to address the housing crisis in WA. She went on to say that it is the UDIA's expectation that housing supply has
absolute bipartisan support and that this is not an issue to play politics
with.
This is an important reform. It is
about providing the opportunity for more Western Australians to get the home they need. It is about the opportunity to
continue to cut red tape and to see economic reform undertaken in this
state. It is an opportunity all members from all sides of this chamber should
get behind.
thank the member for the question. It is a very important one. Before I answer
it, I start by thanking the volunteer and career firefighters of the Corrigin
area who were able to respond to yesterday's early-season fire and also
health staff at Corrigin Hospital who were able to evacuate the patients and
anyone who was in danger yesterday. We hope it was not a portent of the
upcoming bushfire season. We are very much grateful, once again, to first
responders and emergency workers who were able to deal with that situation so
well.
I
think it is fair to say that in addition to the member for Rockingham, most
people in this chamber would agree that we need more houses and
apartments. Most people would agree that supply is the biggest issue facing the
property market, not just in Western Australia, but, indeed, in the entire
country. I think most people would also agree that an efficient planning system
is a fundamental part of boosting supply faster—most.
The government is doing everything it
can to increase supply, and this morning I joined Minister Carey to announce
yet another initiative aimed at boosting housing supply and cutting red tape—planning reform that is important to ensure that we
get the supply of housing that our economy needs. I thank all the
representatives who joined us there this morning to add their voice of support.
They were the Property Council of Australia, the Urban Development Institute of
Australia, Shelter WA, the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia, the
Planning Institute of Australia and Housing Choices Australia.
Our planning reforms were introduced
into Parliament earlier today and have a single objective; it is about building
more homes. We know that if we can streamline the pathway for housing
construction, more Western Australians can get the opportunity to have shelter
and a home. In addition, it is also economic reform
that will give investors more certainty to put capital into projects. Our
planning reforms are broad, but I would like to highlight five key
features—establishing a permanent unit to assess significant developments; ensuring single houses are assessed
efficiently by local governments; reforming development assessment
panels, reducing their number from five to three; optimising planning processes
to cut red tape and remove duplicated processes; and reforming the Western Australian
Planning Commission. These initiatives
respond to the agreed outcomes from national cabinet to address housing supply,
including the National Housing Accord and the national planning reform
blueprint. They respond to significant community and industry consultation over
the past six years. It is also economic reform because, as we know, when investors have confidence, projects
will be approved in a reasonable time frame and according to clear rules, and they are more likely to
proceed. Delays in approvals cost money and can be the difference between something going ahead or not. These reforms also build on the
government's record $2.6 billion investment in housing and homelessness
that includes funding to build 4 000 new social builds.
This is a significant reform. It is
about making sure that we take the opportunity to do everything we can to
improve the availability of housing and the diversity of housing to make sure
that we have more housing options for people
going forward. As a result of that, it means we can address the challenges in
our housing supply that all states in Australia are experiencing but
that we are experiencing much more because many people are coming to Western Australia
to benefit from our strong economy.
I note a couple of the comments that
were made by people at the press conference today. I want members to note their
important words. Sandra Brewer from the Property Council said that this could
be the start of WA's big home build. Cath Hart, the CEO of REIWA, said
that these reforms, which are aimed to cut red tape and reduce delays, will be
welcomed by the community because they will allow more houses coming to the
people of WA sooner. The CEO of UDIA, Tanya Steinbeck, said that the state
government has shown that it is listening
and it understands the dire need to address the housing crisis in WA. She went on to say that it is the UDIA's expectation that housing supply has
absolute bipartisan support and that this is not an issue to play politics
with.
This is an important reform. It is
about providing the opportunity for more Western Australians to get the home they need. It is about the opportunity to
continue to cut red tape and to see economic reform undertaken in this
state. It is an opportunity all members from all sides of this chamber should
get behind.
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