❓ Mr. Hatton asks about the government's strata title reform package and its benefits. Mr. Redman responds by outlining the reforms and their potential to improve housing options and attract investment.
AnsweredQoN 924Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
STRATA TITLE REFORM
924. Mr C.D. HATTON to the
Minister for Lands:
I first acknowledge the staff and students of Tuart Hill Primary
School in the gallery today. It is an excellent independent public school in
the electorate of Balcatta.
In the spirit of Repeal Week, can the minister please outline
how the government's strata title reform package will improve
efficiency, cut red tape and provide more flexible housing options for Western
Australians?
924. Mr C.D. HATTON to the
Minister for Lands:
I first acknowledge the staff and students of Tuart Hill Primary
School in the gallery today. It is an excellent independent public school in
the electorate of Balcatta.
In the spirit of Repeal Week, can the minister please outline
how the government's strata title reform package will improve
efficiency, cut red tape and provide more flexible housing options for Western
Australians?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Balcatta for his question. Of course
in this area he has a strong and ongoing interest in ensuring that we provide
affordable housing opportunities for people in Western Australia. It seems that
opposition members do not want governments doing government business, which is
the way they behaved in their time in government. Of course we are getting on
with the job.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr D.T. REDMAN : It
is predicted that by 2030, Western Australia will be home to 3.5 million
people, and it is really important that we as a government provide affordable
housing options—a choice of housing, urban infill developments and
community living options—to ensure that the market supplies the housing
needs of Western Australia. For that reason we have embarked upon strata title
reform. I have even had questions from the opposition about the importance of
strata title reform and changes to the current legislation, which quite frankly
has not been seriously looked at since the Court–Cowan government back
in the late 1990s. These reforms are now out for public comment. There is
strong support from the development and property industries, which are keen to
see us progress down this path. There are five main areas of reform. The first
is tenure reform in which community titles will enable multiple levels of
management for large-scale and/or mixed-use developments. Currently, there are constraints
around tenure arrangements in strata title lots. The second is reform to vendor
disclosure and to the documents that vendors of strata properties are required
to give buyers before they sign the contract. That will ensure full disclosure
to buyers around the issues that relate to strata titles. The third is reform
to dispute resolution and making the State Administrative Tribunal the one-stop
shop for strata title disputes. The fourth is reform to the management of
strata titles to allow the use of technology. Is it not great to see the
Premier on Twitter now and coming into the world of Twitter, Mr Speaker!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr D.T. REDMAN : I
make the point that even in our legislation we are ensuring that people are
able to apply technology. That, of course, is coming through in the
arrangements for people involved with strata titles to enable them to have
meetings, to vote and to be given information on record keeping. There is also
reform of the termination of schemes. Currently, there is a requirement for 100
per cent agreement by all unit holders in a strata complex to change or
terminate the strata scheme. We are proposing a model that will be built around
a majority vote with some safeguards for objecting owners. Of course, we are
putting that proposed reform out to the market to get feedback on it. We
believe that there are significant benefits in the reforms for planners,
developers, strata owners and occupiers, and that these benefits will provide
more flexibility in the marketplace. Additional to that, we believe that the
benefits will attract investment interest and enable developers to support
significant investment in Western Australia. We have also seen some changes to
strata title reform in other states. We want to ensure that Western Australia
is right up to the market—something that the opposition did not do and
something that we on this side of the house are doing.
in this area he has a strong and ongoing interest in ensuring that we provide
affordable housing opportunities for people in Western Australia. It seems that
opposition members do not want governments doing government business, which is
the way they behaved in their time in government. Of course we are getting on
with the job.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr D.T. REDMAN : It
is predicted that by 2030, Western Australia will be home to 3.5 million
people, and it is really important that we as a government provide affordable
housing options—a choice of housing, urban infill developments and
community living options—to ensure that the market supplies the housing
needs of Western Australia. For that reason we have embarked upon strata title
reform. I have even had questions from the opposition about the importance of
strata title reform and changes to the current legislation, which quite frankly
has not been seriously looked at since the Court–Cowan government back
in the late 1990s. These reforms are now out for public comment. There is
strong support from the development and property industries, which are keen to
see us progress down this path. There are five main areas of reform. The first
is tenure reform in which community titles will enable multiple levels of
management for large-scale and/or mixed-use developments. Currently, there are constraints
around tenure arrangements in strata title lots. The second is reform to vendor
disclosure and to the documents that vendors of strata properties are required
to give buyers before they sign the contract. That will ensure full disclosure
to buyers around the issues that relate to strata titles. The third is reform
to dispute resolution and making the State Administrative Tribunal the one-stop
shop for strata title disputes. The fourth is reform to the management of
strata titles to allow the use of technology. Is it not great to see the
Premier on Twitter now and coming into the world of Twitter, Mr Speaker!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr D.T. REDMAN : I
make the point that even in our legislation we are ensuring that people are
able to apply technology. That, of course, is coming through in the
arrangements for people involved with strata titles to enable them to have
meetings, to vote and to be given information on record keeping. There is also
reform of the termination of schemes. Currently, there is a requirement for 100
per cent agreement by all unit holders in a strata complex to change or
terminate the strata scheme. We are proposing a model that will be built around
a majority vote with some safeguards for objecting owners. Of course, we are
putting that proposed reform out to the market to get feedback on it. We
believe that there are significant benefits in the reforms for planners,
developers, strata owners and occupiers, and that these benefits will provide
more flexibility in the marketplace. Additional to that, we believe that the
benefits will attract investment interest and enable developers to support
significant investment in Western Australia. We have also seen some changes to
strata title reform in other states. We want to ensure that Western Australia
is right up to the market—something that the opposition did not do and
something that we on this side of the house are doing.
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