❓ Hon Neil Thomson questions the Minister for Planning and Lands regarding a significant drop in approved residential lots in metropolitan Perth since 2017-18 compared to the Barnett government's tenure, seeking an explanation for this decline and ministerial responsibility for the failure to deliver affordable housing.
AnsweredQoN 86Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Housing—Approved residential lots
86. Hon Neil Thomson to
the parliamentary secretary to the Minister
for Planning and Lands:
I refer to successive
state lot activity reports showing that final approved residential lots in
metropolitan Perth—table 10.2—have dropped on average from over 13,000 annually
under the Barnett government to approximately 10,000 annually since 2017–18.
(1) Can the minister explain to the
people of Western Australia why lot production has been below the average of
the Barnett government for every single year except for 2024–25 when it only
just achieved the average rate?
(2) Does the minister take responsibility
for the failure to deliver affordable housing for young people?
86. Hon Neil Thomson to
the parliamentary secretary to the Minister
for Planning and Lands:
I refer to successive
state lot activity reports showing that final approved residential lots in
metropolitan Perth—table 10.2—have dropped on average from over 13,000 annually
under the Barnett government to approximately 10,000 annually since 2017–18.
(1) Can the minister explain to the
people of Western Australia why lot production has been below the average of
the Barnett government for every single year except for 2024–25 when it only
just achieved the average rate?
(2) Does the minister take responsibility
for the failure to deliver affordable housing for young people?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question. I provide the following on
behalf of the Minister for Planning and Lands.
(1)–(2) Population growth and housing investment
in Western Australia are closely linked with economic cycles, as the private
market delivers most lots across the metropolitan area. During the Barnett
government, population growth slowed sharply following a downturn in mining
investment, with the flow-on effect being reduced housing demand. Another
significant cyclical shift occurred following the end of COVID- related travel
restrictions, with increased population growth but continuing pandemic effects
on labour and supply chains. In the 12 months to December 2025, 16,590 new
residential lots were created, indicating that the market supply is responding
to demand, especially in key growth corridors. The state government is
undertaking unprecedented reform and investment to boost housing and land
supply across the state. The rest of the response is in tabular form. I seek
leave to incorporate that table into Hansard .
Leave granted for
the following material to be incorporated.
Lot Approvals
2000–01
7635
2001–02
9818
2002–03
12978
2003–04
15001
2004–05
15507
2005/06
16,303
2006/07
15,178
2007/08
13,150
2008/09
9,441
2009/10
8,421
2010/11
10,762
2011/12
9,845
2012/13
12,894
2013/14
15,580
2014/15
19,140
2015/16
14,993
2016/17
9,948
2017/18
10,190
2018/19
9,683
2019/20
8,211
2020/21
12,437
2021/22
9,647
2022/23
8,405
2023/24
8,880
2024/25
13,772
honourable member for some notice of the question. I provide the following on
behalf of the Minister for Planning and Lands.
(1)–(2) Population growth and housing investment
in Western Australia are closely linked with economic cycles, as the private
market delivers most lots across the metropolitan area. During the Barnett
government, population growth slowed sharply following a downturn in mining
investment, with the flow-on effect being reduced housing demand. Another
significant cyclical shift occurred following the end of COVID- related travel
restrictions, with increased population growth but continuing pandemic effects
on labour and supply chains. In the 12 months to December 2025, 16,590 new
residential lots were created, indicating that the market supply is responding
to demand, especially in key growth corridors. The state government is
undertaking unprecedented reform and investment to boost housing and land
supply across the state. The rest of the response is in tabular form. I seek
leave to incorporate that table into Hansard .
Leave granted for
the following material to be incorporated.
Lot Approvals
2000–01
7635
2001–02
9818
2002–03
12978
2003–04
15001
2004–05
15507
2005/06
16,303
2006/07
15,178
2007/08
13,150
2008/09
9,441
2009/10
8,421
2010/11
10,762
2011/12
9,845
2012/13
12,894
2013/14
15,580
2014/15
19,140
2015/16
14,993
2016/17
9,948
2017/18
10,190
2018/19
9,683
2019/20
8,211
2020/21
12,437
2021/22
9,647
2022/23
8,405
2023/24
8,880
2024/25
13,772
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