❓ The Minister for Planning outlines recent planning reforms aimed at saving time and money for homeowners and boosting housing supply, highlighting streamlined approvals and industry support, while criticizing the opposition's stance.
AnsweredQoN 497Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PLANNING REFORM
497. Mr S.N. AUBREY to the Minister for Planning:
I refer to the Cook Labor
government's continued delivery of further nation-leading planning
reforms.
(1) Can the minister outline to the house how recent
changes to planning policies will save Western Australians wanting to
build or renovate a home both time and money?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how changes to the metropolitan region scheme will further
bolster WA's housing supply?
497. Mr S.N. AUBREY to the Minister for Planning:
I refer to the Cook Labor
government's continued delivery of further nation-leading planning
reforms.
(1) Can the minister outline to the house how recent
changes to planning policies will save Western Australians wanting to
build or renovate a home both time and money?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how changes to the metropolitan region scheme will further
bolster WA's housing supply?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
want to thank the member for his question and for being quick on his feet while
the opposition is asleep at the wheel, which happens on a regular basis. Every
state in this country has endorsed the national blueprint for planning reform.
It has been agreed to by national cabinet because every state understands the
critical challenges we face in the housing and rental markets. Western Australia
is not alone. We are all united in our vision to streamline and cut approvals
in the housing system. Of course, our planning reform is leading the nation. It
is the best in the country. It is recognised by a range of stakeholders that Western
Australia is way out in front with our planning rules and regulations.
It is important to note that the last
elements have come through. On 1 July, we saw two key elements. We saw a reinvigorated,
new composition of the Western Australian Planning Commission, strengthening that body's independence as a critical strategic
decision-maker. Of course, we had our single home reforms come through.
I want to remind members that from 1 July this year, single houses and simple
residential projects can no longer be referred or called in by elected members
for a determination at a council meeting unless
it is on a state or local heritage listing or is in a designated area. That
means that single home approvals will simply be referred and considered
by planning staff. That goes right down to a carport. As we have seen, some housing projects—single homes—are
referred to local governments and elected officials, which adds on
months and months. This is having a practical effect of cutting red tape for
single home approvals.
The Planning and Development
Amendment (Metropolitan Region Scheme) Bill that I introduced and read into
Parliament this week will also do that. It is the most significant overhaul of
the MRS in 60 years. Again, it will cut red
tape. It will remove duplication. It will mean that someone who is building a deck
or a home will not need duplicate approvals under the MRS. In fact, 80 per
cent of development applications will be exempt from needing that secondary
approval.
What is great is that industry has
again come out in favour and support of our planning reforms. The Urban Development Institute said that any positive
reform measures that will facilitate more homes getting on the ground
faster is good news for Western Australians. Michael McGowan from the Housing
Industry Association welcomed the changes, which he described as a win for both
the wider and outer metropolitan areas. The proposed changes are expected to
cut administrative burden for the design, assessment and delivery of
shovel-ready land, especially in key corridors. It has also been welcomed by
the Australian Institute of Architects and the WA division of the Property
Council of Australia.
It is very clear that this government
has a clear reform program to streamline and to cut red tape. It is unfortunate
that the other side is moving in the opposite direction. The Nationals WA made
an election commitment to make it harder to build workers accommodation and
homes in regional communities. It will make it harder. It will lift the
development assessment panel threshold and change the composition of DAPs. It will
mean that more developments will end up in the State Administrative Tribunal,
which will lengthen timeframes. The National Party will make it harder for
small and medium-sized builders.
We then have the Liberals. Seriously,
I have seen children's colouring books that have more depth and content than the Liberal caucus. It has policies of
none. Except, the local Liberal candidates are out there saying completely the
opposite. I note that the Liberal candidate for Nedlands is running on an anti- development—I
should say anti-housing—platform. He said that the government has
devolved power to the WA Planning
Commission, which goes completely counter to Liberal values, and that one of the key shared Liberal values is the decentralisation of local decision-making
to the local level. It is interesting that he is saying that. He goes out to
nimby groups, yet the Liberals, other than the member for Cottesloe, vote for
our legislation. The Liberals voted for our Planning Commission changes.
The point that I consistently make—I
am getting feedback about this from stakeholders—is that the Liberal Party changes its pitch and message
according to its audience. When it is with industry, it says it is cutting red tape, it is making changes and it is backing in the government, yet
its candidates are out there in seats saying the total opposite. It is as if
they are in different political parties! This is the thing about the Liberal Party members: people cannot trust
them on housing policy. People cannot trust them on public policy
because to different people, to different audiences, they say different things.
The Liberal caucus and the Liberal candidates are frauds. They have been frauds
to their local communities because in this Parliament the members of the Liberal
Party, and the rest of them, are voting for our planning changes.
want to thank the member for his question and for being quick on his feet while
the opposition is asleep at the wheel, which happens on a regular basis. Every
state in this country has endorsed the national blueprint for planning reform.
It has been agreed to by national cabinet because every state understands the
critical challenges we face in the housing and rental markets. Western Australia
is not alone. We are all united in our vision to streamline and cut approvals
in the housing system. Of course, our planning reform is leading the nation. It
is the best in the country. It is recognised by a range of stakeholders that Western
Australia is way out in front with our planning rules and regulations.
It is important to note that the last
elements have come through. On 1 July, we saw two key elements. We saw a reinvigorated,
new composition of the Western Australian Planning Commission, strengthening that body's independence as a critical strategic
decision-maker. Of course, we had our single home reforms come through.
I want to remind members that from 1 July this year, single houses and simple
residential projects can no longer be referred or called in by elected members
for a determination at a council meeting unless
it is on a state or local heritage listing or is in a designated area. That
means that single home approvals will simply be referred and considered
by planning staff. That goes right down to a carport. As we have seen, some housing projects—single homes—are
referred to local governments and elected officials, which adds on
months and months. This is having a practical effect of cutting red tape for
single home approvals.
The Planning and Development
Amendment (Metropolitan Region Scheme) Bill that I introduced and read into
Parliament this week will also do that. It is the most significant overhaul of
the MRS in 60 years. Again, it will cut red
tape. It will remove duplication. It will mean that someone who is building a deck
or a home will not need duplicate approvals under the MRS. In fact, 80 per
cent of development applications will be exempt from needing that secondary
approval.
What is great is that industry has
again come out in favour and support of our planning reforms. The Urban Development Institute said that any positive
reform measures that will facilitate more homes getting on the ground
faster is good news for Western Australians. Michael McGowan from the Housing
Industry Association welcomed the changes, which he described as a win for both
the wider and outer metropolitan areas. The proposed changes are expected to
cut administrative burden for the design, assessment and delivery of
shovel-ready land, especially in key corridors. It has also been welcomed by
the Australian Institute of Architects and the WA division of the Property
Council of Australia.
It is very clear that this government
has a clear reform program to streamline and to cut red tape. It is unfortunate
that the other side is moving in the opposite direction. The Nationals WA made
an election commitment to make it harder to build workers accommodation and
homes in regional communities. It will make it harder. It will lift the
development assessment panel threshold and change the composition of DAPs. It will
mean that more developments will end up in the State Administrative Tribunal,
which will lengthen timeframes. The National Party will make it harder for
small and medium-sized builders.
We then have the Liberals. Seriously,
I have seen children's colouring books that have more depth and content than the Liberal caucus. It has policies of
none. Except, the local Liberal candidates are out there saying completely the
opposite. I note that the Liberal candidate for Nedlands is running on an anti- development—I
should say anti-housing—platform. He said that the government has
devolved power to the WA Planning
Commission, which goes completely counter to Liberal values, and that one of the key shared Liberal values is the decentralisation of local decision-making
to the local level. It is interesting that he is saying that. He goes out to
nimby groups, yet the Liberals, other than the member for Cottesloe, vote for
our legislation. The Liberals voted for our Planning Commission changes.
The point that I consistently make—I
am getting feedback about this from stakeholders—is that the Liberal Party changes its pitch and message
according to its audience. When it is with industry, it says it is cutting red tape, it is making changes and it is backing in the government, yet
its candidates are out there in seats saying the total opposite. It is as if
they are in different political parties! This is the thing about the Liberal Party members: people cannot trust
them on housing policy. People cannot trust them on public policy
because to different people, to different audiences, they say different things.
The Liberal caucus and the Liberal candidates are frauds. They have been frauds
to their local communities because in this Parliament the members of the Liberal
Party, and the rest of them, are voting for our planning changes.
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