❓ Mr Lilburne asks about the Cook Labor government's planning reforms, their modernisation of the planning system, and any opposition to them. The Minister responds by highlighting the reforms' benefits, criticising the Liberal Party's approach to housing and social policy, and contrasting it with their own.
AnsweredQoN 717Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PLANNING REFORM
717. Mr P. LILBURNE to the Minister for Planning:
I refer to the historic planning
reforms delivered by the Cook Labor government.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how these reforms have modernised our planning
system, making it more efficient and transparent?
(2) Is the
minister aware of anyone who does not support these reforms that will cut red
tape and support increases to our housing supply?
717. Mr P. LILBURNE to the Minister for Planning:
I refer to the historic planning
reforms delivered by the Cook Labor government.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how these reforms have modernised our planning
system, making it more efficient and transparent?
(2) Is the
minister aware of anyone who does not support these reforms that will cut red
tape and support increases to our housing supply?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for his question. Only last week planning reform was back in
the national spotlight, with a range of advocacy groups looking again to cut
red tape for housing, understanding that longer approval processes mean more
holding costs, which affects viability and makes or breaks housing projects
across the country. Of course, we have driven reform. In fact, we are leading
the country, whether it is with our new permanent significant development
pathway for projects costing more than $20 million or $5 million in the regions
or our consolidation of the development assessment panel system, meaning that
developments over $2 million can opt in to the DAP system or stay with the
local government if it is a great performing local government. We have made
single home approvals easier and quicker, meaning that they no longer have to go to council, only to be considered by
administration. We have cut red tape for granny flats, which, as
industry and The West Australian have reported, has resulted in an
extraordinary uptake in the growth of and interest in granny flats. We have
strengthened the independence and strategic thinking of the Western Australian
Planning Commission. I go back to what Michael McGowan from the Housing
Industry Association noted on the public record about our reforms. He said —
Our assessment has WA's
planning system as one of the best in the country. Many of the changes led by
the State Government and Minister John Carey � over the last two years have
reduced the time that houses and developments spend in the planning process.
Expanded DAP thresholds, delegated single dwelling determinations and Medium
Density reforms are examples of the steps that have put WA ahead of the nation
in planning reform.
We have heard from the Deputy Premier
and the Minister for Health. Two documents came out last week in Western Australia. The first was the Aldi
catalogue and the second was the Liberal Party policy document . What I can
say is that one offers Western Australians some really great deals and the
other should be accused of false advertising! If members are after some booty
balm, Aldi has a really good deal. It has Summer
Touch Booty Balm advertised for $9.90—get into it! The point I am
making is that never have we seen a document
with so many flimsy statements. The Liberal document has no policy initiatives.
Can I say this? The document refers to removing the burden on housing,
but it does not say anything about red tape or planning reform. I wonder why
that is. The Leader of the Liberal Party says one thing on planning, with
Liberal candidates saying another. But wait! It does contain a social housing
policy announcement. This is important. The Liberal Party has made a social
housing policy announcement. Interestingly, it does not come under housing
policy; it is in the crime section. It is about playing to the worst
stereotypes and fears about social housing. In this document, the Liberal Party
states that it will review the behaviour and management policies of social
housing tenants. I want to be clear about this. The only time that Liberal
members make a commitment on social housing is in the crime section of their
policy document. What makes the Liberal Party members bigger hypocrites is Hon
Steve Martin. Do members remember an inquiry into homelessness? Hon Steve
Martin endorsed an inquiry that called for an increased focus on the prevention
of and early intervention in homelessness and to use eviction from public
housing only as an absolute last resort. This is the hypocrisy of Liberals. I will
say this again and again. Liberal Party members
say different things to different audiences. Hon Steve Martin is happy to feign
concern for people at risk of homelessness. He endorsed an inquiry that
recommended early intervention, but the only time the Liberal Party commits to
a social housing policy, it is about making people homeless. This is the sham of the Liberals. Seriously! That policy document
has nothing in it. People would be better off looking at the Aldi catalogue and
getting their booty balm, because it will give them something satisfying. The
document is a joke. It should be treated with contempt. It is flimsy and
it is a fraud and there is nothing in it.
thank the member for his question. Only last week planning reform was back in
the national spotlight, with a range of advocacy groups looking again to cut
red tape for housing, understanding that longer approval processes mean more
holding costs, which affects viability and makes or breaks housing projects
across the country. Of course, we have driven reform. In fact, we are leading
the country, whether it is with our new permanent significant development
pathway for projects costing more than $20 million or $5 million in the regions
or our consolidation of the development assessment panel system, meaning that
developments over $2 million can opt in to the DAP system or stay with the
local government if it is a great performing local government. We have made
single home approvals easier and quicker, meaning that they no longer have to go to council, only to be considered by
administration. We have cut red tape for granny flats, which, as
industry and The West Australian have reported, has resulted in an
extraordinary uptake in the growth of and interest in granny flats. We have
strengthened the independence and strategic thinking of the Western Australian
Planning Commission. I go back to what Michael McGowan from the Housing
Industry Association noted on the public record about our reforms. He said —
Our assessment has WA's
planning system as one of the best in the country. Many of the changes led by
the State Government and Minister John Carey � over the last two years have
reduced the time that houses and developments spend in the planning process.
Expanded DAP thresholds, delegated single dwelling determinations and Medium
Density reforms are examples of the steps that have put WA ahead of the nation
in planning reform.
We have heard from the Deputy Premier
and the Minister for Health. Two documents came out last week in Western Australia. The first was the Aldi
catalogue and the second was the Liberal Party policy document . What I can
say is that one offers Western Australians some really great deals and the
other should be accused of false advertising! If members are after some booty
balm, Aldi has a really good deal. It has Summer
Touch Booty Balm advertised for $9.90—get into it! The point I am
making is that never have we seen a document
with so many flimsy statements. The Liberal document has no policy initiatives.
Can I say this? The document refers to removing the burden on housing,
but it does not say anything about red tape or planning reform. I wonder why
that is. The Leader of the Liberal Party says one thing on planning, with
Liberal candidates saying another. But wait! It does contain a social housing
policy announcement. This is important. The Liberal Party has made a social
housing policy announcement. Interestingly, it does not come under housing
policy; it is in the crime section. It is about playing to the worst
stereotypes and fears about social housing. In this document, the Liberal Party
states that it will review the behaviour and management policies of social
housing tenants. I want to be clear about this. The only time that Liberal
members make a commitment on social housing is in the crime section of their
policy document. What makes the Liberal Party members bigger hypocrites is Hon
Steve Martin. Do members remember an inquiry into homelessness? Hon Steve
Martin endorsed an inquiry that called for an increased focus on the prevention
of and early intervention in homelessness and to use eviction from public
housing only as an absolute last resort. This is the hypocrisy of Liberals. I will
say this again and again. Liberal Party members
say different things to different audiences. Hon Steve Martin is happy to feign
concern for people at risk of homelessness. He endorsed an inquiry that
recommended early intervention, but the only time the Liberal Party commits to
a social housing policy, it is about making people homeless. This is the sham of the Liberals. Seriously! That policy document
has nothing in it. People would be better off looking at the Aldi catalogue and
getting their booty balm, because it will give them something satisfying. The
document is a joke. It should be treated with contempt. It is flimsy and
it is a fraud and there is nothing in it.
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