❓ Hon. Colin de Grussa questions the government on housing for overseas builders, specifically regarding the potential use of 'humanihuts'. The government responds by outlining broader efforts to address housing shortages and attract workers, without directly addressing the humanihut proposal.
AnsweredQoN 288Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
BUILDERS' ACCOMMODATION — HUMANIHUTS
288. Hon COLIN de GRUSSA to the Leader of the House
representing the Premier:
I
refer to the ongoing housing and land release issues across Western Australia
and note that this issue covers multiple portfolios, including commerce,
emergency services, jobs and trade, lands, planning and regional development.
(1) What is the
government doing to ensure that builders who come to Western Australia from
overseas have somewhere to live?
(2) Has the state
government purchased humanihuts, such as those being provided by Rio Tinto in
the Kimberley; and, if yes, how many have been purchased and at what cost?
(3) If no to (2), given that humanihuts have a 20-year
life span, why has the government chosen to not purchase these huts for
deployment across regional and remote areas to provide temporary accommodation
for builders?
288. Hon COLIN de GRUSSA to the Leader of the House
representing the Premier:
I
refer to the ongoing housing and land release issues across Western Australia
and note that this issue covers multiple portfolios, including commerce,
emergency services, jobs and trade, lands, planning and regional development.
(1) What is the
government doing to ensure that builders who come to Western Australia from
overseas have somewhere to live?
(2) Has the state
government purchased humanihuts, such as those being provided by Rio Tinto in
the Kimberley; and, if yes, how many have been purchased and at what cost?
(3) If no to (2), given that humanihuts have a 20-year
life span, why has the government chosen to not purchase these huts for
deployment across regional and remote areas to provide temporary accommodation
for builders?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1)–(3) There
are over 32 000 job vacancies across the state in many different industries, at
all levels of expertise. To fill these vacancies, we know that we need more
people to call Western Australia home. More than 30 000 homes were built in WA
between July 2020 and September 2022, with a record 27 500 new homes currently
under construction.
Labour
shortages remain a key issue for the construction industry, highlighting the
need for the recruitment of more workers. The attraction of workers from
interstate and overseas is key in addressing housing supply needs and
residential construction time frames, complementing our existing investment in
training local workers.
The McGowan government is
investing a record $2.4 billion in housing and homelessness services, with
unlocking affordable housing opportunities across WA a key priority. We have
implemented a range of initiatives to increase housing supply, including
alternative construction methods to accelerate delivery; unlocking additional
land through to encourage new developments; land tax and stamp duty concessions
to support new builds; an $80 million infrastructure development fund to
kickstart developments; and planning reforms to deliver more housing choices
for the community.
We will continue to do everything we
can to increase housing accessibility, despite constant opposition by the
Liberal and National Parties.
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1)–(3) There
are over 32 000 job vacancies across the state in many different industries, at
all levels of expertise. To fill these vacancies, we know that we need more
people to call Western Australia home. More than 30 000 homes were built in WA
between July 2020 and September 2022, with a record 27 500 new homes currently
under construction.
Labour
shortages remain a key issue for the construction industry, highlighting the
need for the recruitment of more workers. The attraction of workers from
interstate and overseas is key in addressing housing supply needs and
residential construction time frames, complementing our existing investment in
training local workers.
The McGowan government is
investing a record $2.4 billion in housing and homelessness services, with
unlocking affordable housing opportunities across WA a key priority. We have
implemented a range of initiatives to increase housing supply, including
alternative construction methods to accelerate delivery; unlocking additional
land through to encourage new developments; land tax and stamp duty concessions
to support new builds; an $80 million infrastructure development fund to
kickstart developments; and planning reforms to deliver more housing choices
for the community.
We will continue to do everything we
can to increase housing accessibility, despite constant opposition by the
Liberal and National Parties.
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