❓ Question on Notice regarding the Cook Labor government's short-term rental accommodation incentive scheme and its impact on boosting housing supply in Western Australia. The Minister's response highlights positive stakeholder feedback and initial interest in the scheme.
AnsweredQoN 853Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HOUSING —
LONG-TERM RENTAL INCENTIVE
853. Ms E.J. KELSBIE to the Minister for Housing:
I refer to the Cook Labor
government's approach to unlocking more housing across Western Australia.
(1) Can the
minister advise the house how new measures introduced by this government, such
as the short-term rental accommodation incentive scheme, will boost housing
supply across the state?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house if he is aware of anyone who opposes these important
reforms to increase housing supply?
LONG-TERM RENTAL INCENTIVE
853. Ms E.J. KELSBIE to the Minister for Housing:
I refer to the Cook Labor
government's approach to unlocking more housing across Western Australia.
(1) Can the
minister advise the house how new measures introduced by this government, such
as the short-term rental accommodation incentive scheme, will boost housing
supply across the state?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house if he is aware of anyone who opposes these important
reforms to increase housing supply?
AnswerView source ↗
I
thank the member for her question. I also want to acknowledge it is Pride Month
and we had Fairday on the weekend . The Premier visited Pride Fairday and
I also hosted the dog show, and I am proud to say that Joan Crawford won the
dog show over Doggy Parton.
Point of Order
Mr P.J. RUNDLE : It is the
same thing.
The SPEAKER : Sorry?
Mr P.J. RUNDLE : In
relation to the earlier point of order regarding the member for Cottesloe, this
is a similar scenario.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, just
to be clear, I give the rulings here. There are certain rules for the asking of
questions . There is a certain amount of latitude to ministers in
answering a question. Although the comments by the Minister for Housing were
not directly addressing the question, I anticipate that he has finished those
comments. They were brief and he was not asking a question, so the same order
does not apply. A bit of latitude is given. I remind ministers not to take too
much latitude.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr J.N. CAREY : I am glad the
member for Roe has a sense of humour!
(1)–(2) I
have watched the response of a range of stakeholders to our announcements last
week, particularly those around the
regulation of short-term rentals. I note that across the board, from the Real
Estate Institute of Western Australia to the Australian Hotels
Association and other stakeholders, there has been an overwhelming recognition
that this is another step as part of a range of measures to help boost housing
supply. I note the AHA's Bradley Woods said on the record —
We believe that the financial
incentives that are being made available will help entice some hosts to return
their property to the long-term housing market �
He is right. I am pleased to report
that already that the Consumer Protection division has received 90 expressions
of interest relating to 105 properties. Since our announcement last week, 90 people
have indicated that they could be interested in the $10 000 incentive grant to
change their property over. As the Minister for Commerce said at the time, even
if we get 20, 30 or 50, if that means that a house moves across from the short-term rental market and
provides a home to vulnerable Western Australians, that s hould be
congratulated.
I note that regional local
governments deeply appreciated our nuanced approach. We gave this very strong consideration and we understood that a 90-day
threshold could water down existing rules by regional local governments.
The City of Busselton said that it welcomed the announcement —
� new regulations for un-hosted
short-term rental accommodation in Western Australia, along with an incentive aimed at returning some
properties to the long-term rental market, are a positive step forward
to introducing a State-wide balance �
It also said —
The proposed incentive to encourage
short-stay property owners to consider transitioning their property to the
long-term market is consistent with the Council's formal position �
The City of Busselton strongly
welcomed our announcement to help boost housing supply. The Shire of Augusta–Margaret
River also said —
The Shire has been advocating for
these outcomes for some time, as it means holiday homes can be managed by the
Shire, in a way that is best for our community.
It might shock members that there was
one negative voice. In fact, there were two negative voices. The first, Hon Steven
Martin, attacked it as a short-term shuffle. The honourable member has not yet
released one housing policy. His only housing policy solution to date was given
on radio in a thought bubble when he said, ''I think we could do more
maintenance.'' Then we have Louise ''kill the whales''
Kingston, who said this, and this shows members how out of touch the Nationals
WA are, how out of touch —
Withdrawal of Remark
The SPEAKER : Minister, that
was unparliamentary.
Mr J.N. CAREY : I withdraw
that.
The SPEAKER : That is not how
you refer to a member of the upper house.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr
J.N. CAREY : Hon Louise Kingston
is so out of touch with regional local communities, the City of Busselton and
the Shire of Augusta–Margaret River, that she said, ''They're
essentially paying off owners of short-stay accommodation to take their
properties off the tourism market.'' Yes. That is what we are aiming to
do. Yes. We are doing exactly what regional local governments like Busselton
and Augusta–Margaret River want. The Nationals WA, who claim they are
in touch with regional communities, are arguing against the position of
regional local governments in Western Australia, which are saying that we need
to regulate Airbnbs. They are not worrying about the potential impacts on their
tourism markets because they want to
see a boost to housing supply and they are best placed to regulate their
markets.
Again, we see this clear line between
the Liberals and Nationals, who are completely out of touch when it comes to
housing supply issues, and this side of government, which is working with local
governments to help boost local housing supply in Western Australia.
thank the member for her question. I also want to acknowledge it is Pride Month
and we had Fairday on the weekend . The Premier visited Pride Fairday and
I also hosted the dog show, and I am proud to say that Joan Crawford won the
dog show over Doggy Parton.
Point of Order
Mr P.J. RUNDLE : It is the
same thing.
The SPEAKER : Sorry?
Mr P.J. RUNDLE : In
relation to the earlier point of order regarding the member for Cottesloe, this
is a similar scenario.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, just
to be clear, I give the rulings here. There are certain rules for the asking of
questions . There is a certain amount of latitude to ministers in
answering a question. Although the comments by the Minister for Housing were
not directly addressing the question, I anticipate that he has finished those
comments. They were brief and he was not asking a question, so the same order
does not apply. A bit of latitude is given. I remind ministers not to take too
much latitude.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr J.N. CAREY : I am glad the
member for Roe has a sense of humour!
(1)–(2) I
have watched the response of a range of stakeholders to our announcements last
week, particularly those around the
regulation of short-term rentals. I note that across the board, from the Real
Estate Institute of Western Australia to the Australian Hotels
Association and other stakeholders, there has been an overwhelming recognition
that this is another step as part of a range of measures to help boost housing
supply. I note the AHA's Bradley Woods said on the record —
We believe that the financial
incentives that are being made available will help entice some hosts to return
their property to the long-term housing market �
He is right. I am pleased to report
that already that the Consumer Protection division has received 90 expressions
of interest relating to 105 properties. Since our announcement last week, 90 people
have indicated that they could be interested in the $10 000 incentive grant to
change their property over. As the Minister for Commerce said at the time, even
if we get 20, 30 or 50, if that means that a house moves across from the short-term rental market and
provides a home to vulnerable Western Australians, that s hould be
congratulated.
I note that regional local
governments deeply appreciated our nuanced approach. We gave this very strong consideration and we understood that a 90-day
threshold could water down existing rules by regional local governments.
The City of Busselton said that it welcomed the announcement —
� new regulations for un-hosted
short-term rental accommodation in Western Australia, along with an incentive aimed at returning some
properties to the long-term rental market, are a positive step forward
to introducing a State-wide balance �
It also said —
The proposed incentive to encourage
short-stay property owners to consider transitioning their property to the
long-term market is consistent with the Council's formal position �
The City of Busselton strongly
welcomed our announcement to help boost housing supply. The Shire of Augusta–Margaret
River also said —
The Shire has been advocating for
these outcomes for some time, as it means holiday homes can be managed by the
Shire, in a way that is best for our community.
It might shock members that there was
one negative voice. In fact, there were two negative voices. The first, Hon Steven
Martin, attacked it as a short-term shuffle. The honourable member has not yet
released one housing policy. His only housing policy solution to date was given
on radio in a thought bubble when he said, ''I think we could do more
maintenance.'' Then we have Louise ''kill the whales''
Kingston, who said this, and this shows members how out of touch the Nationals
WA are, how out of touch —
Withdrawal of Remark
The SPEAKER : Minister, that
was unparliamentary.
Mr J.N. CAREY : I withdraw
that.
The SPEAKER : That is not how
you refer to a member of the upper house.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr
J.N. CAREY : Hon Louise Kingston
is so out of touch with regional local communities, the City of Busselton and
the Shire of Augusta–Margaret River, that she said, ''They're
essentially paying off owners of short-stay accommodation to take their
properties off the tourism market.'' Yes. That is what we are aiming to
do. Yes. We are doing exactly what regional local governments like Busselton
and Augusta–Margaret River want. The Nationals WA, who claim they are
in touch with regional communities, are arguing against the position of
regional local governments in Western Australia, which are saying that we need
to regulate Airbnbs. They are not worrying about the potential impacts on their
tourism markets because they want to
see a boost to housing supply and they are best placed to regulate their
markets.
Again, we see this clear line between
the Liberals and Nationals, who are completely out of touch when it comes to
housing supply issues, and this side of government, which is working with local
governments to help boost local housing supply in Western Australia.
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