❓ The Minister for Housing outlines the Cook Labor government's investments in social and affordable housing, highlighting recent budget allocations and criticising the opposition's lack of policies in this area.
AnsweredQoN 270Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HOUSING — AFFORDABILITY
270. Dr J. KRISHNAN to the Minister for Housing;
Homelessness:
I
refer to the Cook Labor government's ongoing investment in housing and
homelessness initiatives. Can the minister outline to the house how the
government's upcoming budget will provide further investments to drive
housing supply and support Western Australia's most vulnerable?
270. Dr J. KRISHNAN to the Minister for Housing;
Homelessness:
I
refer to the Cook Labor government's ongoing investment in housing and
homelessness initiatives. Can the minister outline to the house how the
government's upcoming budget will provide further investments to drive
housing supply and support Western Australia's most vulnerable?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for his question
and his commitment to boosting housing supply and providing homes for our most
vulnerable. We know that we are in a booming economy and we are seeing
extraordinary growth in home retail prices. Many people are now getting equity
that they have not had before, but we also know that there are many others in
the rental market who are facing significant pressures. We are very cognisant
of the pressures that many Western Australians
are facing. It is for that reason that this government, with a very laser
focus, is continuing to drive investment in social and affordable
housing.
As we heard from the Premier in respect
of our latest investments, since our first record investment, we have provided
an additional $3.2 billion to boost housing supply and to provide a greater
supply of housing for those in need. This
week I joined the Premier and the Deputy Premier; Treasurer to announce another
$843 million investment in social housing, affordable housing and
homelessness. That means that we are resetting our target again. It means that
with the work we are doing, we are now setting a new social housing target of
nearly 5 000 homes. To date, in the tightest construction market that we have
seen, we have been able to deliver more than 2 100, with a further 1 000 under
contract and construction.
We are also working hard
to extend the life of homes, recognising the mess we inherited and the number
of complexes that were left derelict and vacant. We have already
extended the life of 1 500 homes through major refurbishments. Of course, we
are also making unprecedented investment in boosting homelessness services in
this budget. What we see on this side is a clear commitment to cut red tape,
drive housing supply and assist our most vulnerable who are doing it tough.
I note that there is a clear
difference between our side of the chamber and the opposition. From the Liberal
Party we have had nothing. In seven and a half years in government, there was
not one social housing policy, housing policy
or homelessness policy—none. Members opposite even had the audacity to
criticise an $843 million injection into social and affordable housing.
When they are pushed about what their policies are, it is zero; crickets. In
fact, I would say it is a bit awkward—a bit awks. It is uncomfortable
viewing when Hon Steve Martin is pushed and he has nothing to say, other than
that I am obsessed with social housing! Well, you know what? I am the Minister
for Housing; you might think I am passionate about delivering more housing!
What do we see from the Nationals
WA? Behold! It has a policy, and that policy is more red tape for housing in
the regions. The Nationals has announced that it is lifting the threshold on
the development assessment panel system from $2 million to $5 million. What
does that mean? It means that a range of building companies across regional Western Australia will hit more
bureaucracy and will not have the streamlined pathway of the DAP system .
One thing we know from the pandemic is that the cost of houses, complexes and
workers' accommodation has significantly increased. So what did the
Nationals WA do? The Nationals said, ''We're not going to make
it easier to build workers' accommodation or housing; we're
going to make it tougher. We're going to lift the threshold.'' This is absolute madness. I ask the Leader of the
Nationals WA: does it apply to community housing? He has no idea . He
announced the policy! The Leader of the Nationals WA does not even know whether
it applies to community housing. Does it apply to community housing?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Mr J.N. CAREY : This is a demonstration:
we have just seen that the Leader of the Nationals WA and the Leader of the
Opposition, in making an announcement, cannot answer clearly whether this will
apply to community housing projects. What are community housing projects? They
are housing projects that house our most vulnerable Western Australians. What
we have from the Nationals is more red tape for key workers'
accommodation, more red tape for builders in regional economies and, it seems,
more red tape for community housing projects for our most vulnerable. What a disgrace
by the National Party.
and his commitment to boosting housing supply and providing homes for our most
vulnerable. We know that we are in a booming economy and we are seeing
extraordinary growth in home retail prices. Many people are now getting equity
that they have not had before, but we also know that there are many others in
the rental market who are facing significant pressures. We are very cognisant
of the pressures that many Western Australians
are facing. It is for that reason that this government, with a very laser
focus, is continuing to drive investment in social and affordable
housing.
As we heard from the Premier in respect
of our latest investments, since our first record investment, we have provided
an additional $3.2 billion to boost housing supply and to provide a greater
supply of housing for those in need. This
week I joined the Premier and the Deputy Premier; Treasurer to announce another
$843 million investment in social housing, affordable housing and
homelessness. That means that we are resetting our target again. It means that
with the work we are doing, we are now setting a new social housing target of
nearly 5 000 homes. To date, in the tightest construction market that we have
seen, we have been able to deliver more than 2 100, with a further 1 000 under
contract and construction.
We are also working hard
to extend the life of homes, recognising the mess we inherited and the number
of complexes that were left derelict and vacant. We have already
extended the life of 1 500 homes through major refurbishments. Of course, we
are also making unprecedented investment in boosting homelessness services in
this budget. What we see on this side is a clear commitment to cut red tape,
drive housing supply and assist our most vulnerable who are doing it tough.
I note that there is a clear
difference between our side of the chamber and the opposition. From the Liberal
Party we have had nothing. In seven and a half years in government, there was
not one social housing policy, housing policy
or homelessness policy—none. Members opposite even had the audacity to
criticise an $843 million injection into social and affordable housing.
When they are pushed about what their policies are, it is zero; crickets. In
fact, I would say it is a bit awkward—a bit awks. It is uncomfortable
viewing when Hon Steve Martin is pushed and he has nothing to say, other than
that I am obsessed with social housing! Well, you know what? I am the Minister
for Housing; you might think I am passionate about delivering more housing!
What do we see from the Nationals
WA? Behold! It has a policy, and that policy is more red tape for housing in
the regions. The Nationals has announced that it is lifting the threshold on
the development assessment panel system from $2 million to $5 million. What
does that mean? It means that a range of building companies across regional Western Australia will hit more
bureaucracy and will not have the streamlined pathway of the DAP system .
One thing we know from the pandemic is that the cost of houses, complexes and
workers' accommodation has significantly increased. So what did the
Nationals WA do? The Nationals said, ''We're not going to make
it easier to build workers' accommodation or housing; we're
going to make it tougher. We're going to lift the threshold.'' This is absolute madness. I ask the Leader of the
Nationals WA: does it apply to community housing? He has no idea . He
announced the policy! The Leader of the Nationals WA does not even know whether
it applies to community housing. Does it apply to community housing?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Mr J.N. CAREY : This is a demonstration:
we have just seen that the Leader of the Nationals WA and the Leader of the
Opposition, in making an announcement, cannot answer clearly whether this will
apply to community housing projects. What are community housing projects? They
are housing projects that house our most vulnerable Western Australians. What
we have from the Nationals is more red tape for key workers'
accommodation, more red tape for builders in regional economies and, it seems,
more red tape for community housing projects for our most vulnerable. What a disgrace
by the National Party.
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