❓ Ms. Hamilton asks about the response of WA's building and construction industries to the McGowan government's proposed planning reforms aimed at COVID-19 recovery. The Minister responds by highlighting support from various industry groups, including the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Property Council WA, HIA, UDIA, and Master Builders Association.
AnsweredQoN 341Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PLANNING REFORMS
341. Ms E. HAMILTON to the Minister for Planning:
I refer to the McGowan government's
proposed planning reforms, announced yesterday, that aim to urgently support
business and drive economic activity as WA recovers from COVID-19.
(1) Can the
minister advise the house� how WA's building and construction
industries have responded to these major reforms?
(2) Can the
minister outline to the house what these industries have said about the impact
these reforms will have on jobs and businesses, particularly those in my
electorate of Joondalup?
341. Ms E. HAMILTON to the Minister for Planning:
I refer to the McGowan government's
proposed planning reforms, announced yesterday, that aim to urgently support
business and drive economic activity as WA recovers from COVID-19.
(1) Can the
minister advise the house� how WA's building and construction
industries have responded to these major reforms?
(2) Can the
minister outline to the house what these industries have said about the impact
these reforms will have on jobs and businesses, particularly those in my
electorate of Joondalup?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I thank the member for Joondalup for that
question, and her concern and interest in planning in her electorate .
The member for Joondalup has been so engaged on planning issues. As part of our
package announced yesterday, it was really good to include some solutions to
the issues that have occurred throughout Joondalup, for example better
community engagement at the front end on a radius model to make sure everyone
understands what is being proposed in that area; signage for major
developments; and, of course, elevating local planning strategies to involve
the community at the front end. It has been those real life experiences of
members from this side, and also small business and the community, that have
led us to the range of reforms that we are introducing.
It is sweeping reform, whether it is
community engagement, red tape for small business, or home owners wanting to
make a little modification to their homes. I welcome the support from
construction and housing industry groups from all over Western Australia. I will
go through some of the comments. Many of these groups would not be from the
so-called ''Labor Party base''. I will start off with the Chamber
of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia. It came out and said —
WA
small businesses will be better able to adapt in the wake of COVID-19 following
a significant overhaul of planning regulations announced by the State
Government today.
�
Abolishing change-of-use approvals is
an important step to enable business adaptivity and growth �
We
look forward to further engaging with the CCI as we finalise those regulations
to make sure small business in Western Australia can prosper and adapt to what
is very much an ever changing environment. Then we have the Property Council
WA, again, not what we would say is involved in the Labor Party base, which states
—
Property Council WA Executive
Director Sandra Brewer has —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, the
minister can do a very good job on her own.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : I think she
was a member of the Cottesloe branch, but not of the Labor Party! It continues —
� praised the State Government's
decision to streamline Covid-19 recovery plans for the property sector, saying
this will get more West Australians back to work quicker.
I would say the executive director
of the Housing Industry Association of Western Australia, Cath Hart, is also
not a traditional Labor Party person. The HIA media statement says —
HIA WA's Executive Director
Cath Hart has welcomed the bold planning agenda outlined by Premier Mark
McGowan and Planning Minister Rita Saffioti today.
The Urban Development Institute of
Australia says —
The � (UDIA WA) has welcomed the
introduction of a suite of planning reforms by the Minister for Planning today
that are aimed at boosting economic activity and driving jobs growth in response
to the impact of COVID-19.
The Master Builders Association,
again not traditional Labor Party supporters, says —
''Cutting red tape,
streamlining the planning process and ensuring consistency are vital for
getting our state on the road to recovery and beyond.
''The
changes will allow urgent decision making where necessary, making it easier for
businesses to operate in tough conditions now, while also creating the
foundations for engaged communities and smart future growth.
As members can see, these reforms have
been well considered over many years and we have the specific initiative to
create jobs now for major developments.
I am so keen to work with all
members in this house, the Nationals WA and the Liberal Party, on this issue. I
look forward to the engagement. There are different sections of the Liberal
Party, and my parliamentary secretary and I will
be working through every section of the Liberal Party to see whether we can get
the support, in this house and in the other place, for a package of
reforms that is widely supported and welcomed throughout Western Australia.
question, and her concern and interest in planning in her electorate .
The member for Joondalup has been so engaged on planning issues. As part of our
package announced yesterday, it was really good to include some solutions to
the issues that have occurred throughout Joondalup, for example better
community engagement at the front end on a radius model to make sure everyone
understands what is being proposed in that area; signage for major
developments; and, of course, elevating local planning strategies to involve
the community at the front end. It has been those real life experiences of
members from this side, and also small business and the community, that have
led us to the range of reforms that we are introducing.
It is sweeping reform, whether it is
community engagement, red tape for small business, or home owners wanting to
make a little modification to their homes. I welcome the support from
construction and housing industry groups from all over Western Australia. I will
go through some of the comments. Many of these groups would not be from the
so-called ''Labor Party base''. I will start off with the Chamber
of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia. It came out and said —
WA
small businesses will be better able to adapt in the wake of COVID-19 following
a significant overhaul of planning regulations announced by the State
Government today.
�
Abolishing change-of-use approvals is
an important step to enable business adaptivity and growth �
We
look forward to further engaging with the CCI as we finalise those regulations
to make sure small business in Western Australia can prosper and adapt to what
is very much an ever changing environment. Then we have the Property Council
WA, again, not what we would say is involved in the Labor Party base, which states
—
Property Council WA Executive
Director Sandra Brewer has —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, the
minister can do a very good job on her own.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : I think she
was a member of the Cottesloe branch, but not of the Labor Party! It continues —
� praised the State Government's
decision to streamline Covid-19 recovery plans for the property sector, saying
this will get more West Australians back to work quicker.
I would say the executive director
of the Housing Industry Association of Western Australia, Cath Hart, is also
not a traditional Labor Party person. The HIA media statement says —
HIA WA's Executive Director
Cath Hart has welcomed the bold planning agenda outlined by Premier Mark
McGowan and Planning Minister Rita Saffioti today.
The Urban Development Institute of
Australia says —
The � (UDIA WA) has welcomed the
introduction of a suite of planning reforms by the Minister for Planning today
that are aimed at boosting economic activity and driving jobs growth in response
to the impact of COVID-19.
The Master Builders Association,
again not traditional Labor Party supporters, says —
''Cutting red tape,
streamlining the planning process and ensuring consistency are vital for
getting our state on the road to recovery and beyond.
''The
changes will allow urgent decision making where necessary, making it easier for
businesses to operate in tough conditions now, while also creating the
foundations for engaged communities and smart future growth.
As members can see, these reforms have
been well considered over many years and we have the specific initiative to
create jobs now for major developments.
I am so keen to work with all
members in this house, the Nationals WA and the Liberal Party, on this issue. I
look forward to the engagement. There are different sections of the Liberal
Party, and my parliamentary secretary and I will
be working through every section of the Liberal Party to see whether we can get
the support, in this house and in the other place, for a package of
reforms that is widely supported and welcomed throughout Western Australia.
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