❓ Premier Cook responds to questions about rental accommodation availability, highlighting government initiatives and criticising the opposition's stance.
AnsweredQoN 142Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
RENTAL ACCOMMODATION —
AVAILABILITY
142. Ms J.J. SHAW to the Premier:
I
refer to the Cook Labor government's efforts to boost housing supply
and support renters across Western Australia.
(1) Can the
Premier update the house on this government's innovative policy
initiatives to help struggling renters and create more affordable housing
options?
(2) Can the
Premier advise the house whether he is aware of anyone who does not support
these initiatives?
AVAILABILITY
142. Ms J.J. SHAW to the Premier:
I
refer to the Cook Labor government's efforts to boost housing supply
and support renters across Western Australia.
(1) Can the
Premier update the house on this government's innovative policy
initiatives to help struggling renters and create more affordable housing
options?
(2) Can the
Premier advise the house whether he is aware of anyone who does not support
these initiatives?
AnswerView source ↗
I noticed the interjection from the
member for Cottesloe, who actually just accused the government of rewarding the
former Under Treasurer.
Dr D.J. Honey : That's
why you like him.
Mr R.H. COOK : Did you want to say that again, member?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Mr R.H. COOK : I think the
Liberal Party has spoken on that member's status, Madam Speaker.
(1)–(2) I thank the member for the question. It is a very
important one, because we all know that cost of living and housing are
two of the most significant pressures on Western Australians to date. The
pandemic followed by the war in Ukraine has created setbacks to supply chains
and has had a significant impact on the cost and affordability of housing, and,
of course, that is also impacted by the labour force constraints. That is why
we continue to do everything we can to ensure that we create more housing stock
to ease the pressures on the housing markets. Planning reforms are making it
easier to build more homes or even granny flats in good locations, and
incentives are attracting high-density developments and worker accommodation
for strategic locations. Just yesterday, Minister Carey was in Coolbellup
announcing the delivery of more social homes—16
of more than 1 900 since our $2.6 billion investment. I have two young adult
kids. One is in the early stages of house ownership; the other is deep
in the housing rental market. I know how tough it is out there. We need to do
everything we can to help people everywhere who are doing it tough. Every bit
helps. That is why we partnered with the Western Australian Council of Social
Service to assist private renters to keep a roof
over their heads, and it is also why we have offered incentives for short-term accommodation owners to convert their property to the rental market.
I am very pleased to announce that I can
confirm to the house that the WA rent relief program has now helped 255 households in Western Australia—that
is 255 families, pensioners, single parents or individuals— to
keep a roof over their heads. It has equated to more than $1 million in
assistance so far. I thank the community
service organisations involved in helping to get this critical support for
renters as quickly as possible.
Now, we also introduced our
short-term rental accommodation incentive scheme around the same time. In fact,
it was attacked by the opposition at the time. Indeed, the Nationals' Hon
Louise Kingston said —
''A shrink in the supply of
short-stay accommodation will adversely impact prices and send more people to
Bali �
Meanwhile, the Liberal's Hon
Steve Martin claimed the opposite. He described it as —
� nothing more than a short-term
shuffle that does not produce more houses �
According to the opposition, it would
do nothing and do too much all at the same time. This is on the same joint
media release. They make these claims in a joint media release, and today I can
report on the facts. Seventy-six new rental homes have been created as a result
of the incentive scheme, of which 43 are in Perth and Mandurah and the
remaining 33 are in the regions. That is 76 rentals that otherwise would not
have been available. Meanwhile, further applications are being submitted and
assessed. In addition to these innovative policies to help renters, we have
also reformed the Residential Tenancies Act to help tenants in the community,
and our reforms have been backed by the property industry. They offer renters
more rights by banning rent bidding, limiting rent increases to no more than
once a year and allowing minor modifications and a streamlined process for
dispute resolution and bond releases. It is startling that even under these
difficult conditions in the housing market, the opposition should take the
opportunity to oppose them. It is a disgrace. They are hopelessly divided, but,
on this, they almost appeared united.
Dr A.D. Buti : That's
an exaggeration—come on!
Mr R.H. COOK : Almost.
We know that the member for Roe's
heart was not in it, but we know that he did the bidding of the Liberal Party on this one. At a time when renters most needed
these reforms in our rental market to make sure that we can support them
and give them more rights, the Liberal–National members turned their
back on renters. We will not. Through our rental assistance payment scheme, our
short-term rental assistance incentive scheme and our tenancy reforms, we will
stand by renters and people in the housing market and make sure that we
continue to grow the amount of housing in our community and put downward pressure
on the cost of housing.
member for Cottesloe, who actually just accused the government of rewarding the
former Under Treasurer.
Dr D.J. Honey : That's
why you like him.
Mr R.H. COOK : Did you want to say that again, member?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Mr R.H. COOK : I think the
Liberal Party has spoken on that member's status, Madam Speaker.
(1)–(2) I thank the member for the question. It is a very
important one, because we all know that cost of living and housing are
two of the most significant pressures on Western Australians to date. The
pandemic followed by the war in Ukraine has created setbacks to supply chains
and has had a significant impact on the cost and affordability of housing, and,
of course, that is also impacted by the labour force constraints. That is why
we continue to do everything we can to ensure that we create more housing stock
to ease the pressures on the housing markets. Planning reforms are making it
easier to build more homes or even granny flats in good locations, and
incentives are attracting high-density developments and worker accommodation
for strategic locations. Just yesterday, Minister Carey was in Coolbellup
announcing the delivery of more social homes—16
of more than 1 900 since our $2.6 billion investment. I have two young adult
kids. One is in the early stages of house ownership; the other is deep
in the housing rental market. I know how tough it is out there. We need to do
everything we can to help people everywhere who are doing it tough. Every bit
helps. That is why we partnered with the Western Australian Council of Social
Service to assist private renters to keep a roof
over their heads, and it is also why we have offered incentives for short-term accommodation owners to convert their property to the rental market.
I am very pleased to announce that I can
confirm to the house that the WA rent relief program has now helped 255 households in Western Australia—that
is 255 families, pensioners, single parents or individuals— to
keep a roof over their heads. It has equated to more than $1 million in
assistance so far. I thank the community
service organisations involved in helping to get this critical support for
renters as quickly as possible.
Now, we also introduced our
short-term rental accommodation incentive scheme around the same time. In fact,
it was attacked by the opposition at the time. Indeed, the Nationals' Hon
Louise Kingston said —
''A shrink in the supply of
short-stay accommodation will adversely impact prices and send more people to
Bali �
Meanwhile, the Liberal's Hon
Steve Martin claimed the opposite. He described it as —
� nothing more than a short-term
shuffle that does not produce more houses �
According to the opposition, it would
do nothing and do too much all at the same time. This is on the same joint
media release. They make these claims in a joint media release, and today I can
report on the facts. Seventy-six new rental homes have been created as a result
of the incentive scheme, of which 43 are in Perth and Mandurah and the
remaining 33 are in the regions. That is 76 rentals that otherwise would not
have been available. Meanwhile, further applications are being submitted and
assessed. In addition to these innovative policies to help renters, we have
also reformed the Residential Tenancies Act to help tenants in the community,
and our reforms have been backed by the property industry. They offer renters
more rights by banning rent bidding, limiting rent increases to no more than
once a year and allowing minor modifications and a streamlined process for
dispute resolution and bond releases. It is startling that even under these
difficult conditions in the housing market, the opposition should take the
opportunity to oppose them. It is a disgrace. They are hopelessly divided, but,
on this, they almost appeared united.
Dr A.D. Buti : That's
an exaggeration—come on!
Mr R.H. COOK : Almost.
We know that the member for Roe's
heart was not in it, but we know that he did the bidding of the Liberal Party on this one. At a time when renters most needed
these reforms in our rental market to make sure that we can support them
and give them more rights, the Liberal–National members turned their
back on renters. We will not. Through our rental assistance payment scheme, our
short-term rental assistance incentive scheme and our tenancy reforms, we will
stand by renters and people in the housing market and make sure that we
continue to grow the amount of housing in our community and put downward pressure
on the cost of housing.
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