❓ Question on strata title reforms addresses transparency, accountability, and fairness for stakeholders, while refuting claims of a 'dystopian view' on housing density. The Minister defends the reforms as providing housing choice and modernising the strata system.
AnsweredQoN 570Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
STRATA TITLE —
REFORMS
570. Mr J.N. CAREY to the Minister for Lands:
I refer to the biggest reform of
strata laws in more than 20 years.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how these changes will improve transparency,
accountability and fairness for strata owners, residents, developers and
managers?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house whether it is true, as claimed by the visionary
member for Cottesloe, that this is all part of the Labor Party's ''dystopian
view of housing density and land ownership''?
REFORMS
570. Mr J.N. CAREY to the Minister for Lands:
I refer to the biggest reform of
strata laws in more than 20 years.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how these changes will improve transparency,
accountability and fairness for strata owners, residents, developers and
managers?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house whether it is true, as claimed by the visionary
member for Cottesloe, that this is all part of the Labor Party's ''dystopian
view of housing density and land ownership''?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for that
question.
(1)–(2) The
proposed reforms have been a long time coming—five years in drafting
and consultation. I acknowledge the work, as I always do, of the previous
Minister for Lands, for starting that project and making sure that the process
started to make sure we modernise our strata title system. The community has
changed, in case no-one has realised. There is more desire for mixed-use
developments and older people want to live in their suburbs in their old age.
There are more mixed-use developments. Communities want to share the cost of
infrastructure and there is more flexibility to use such things as solar panels
and renewable energy.
The proposed strata reforms will
address all this and they will also increase the transparency and clarity of
the strata system, which we know is outdated. A couple of aspects of that, of
course, are the creation of community titles and leasehold strata. This is all
about giving people real choice of where they live in their communities. That
is not just about density and liveability; it is about giving younger people
the chance to live in the suburb they know and older people the opportunity to
downsize in the suburb they know and where they know the doctors and the
shopping centre.
I was shocked to see the member for
Cottesloe's comments in the paper. He said —
''It
is clear that the key figures in WA Labor have a deep, even bitter dislike of
this dream and are determined to force us into high-density, collective
accommodation that we don't even own,'' ...
The Cold War is over, member for Cottesloe.
The idea that giving people choice in housing and that renters are second-class
citizens in WA comes from the member for Cottesloe. Somehow, if one does not
own their own home, they should not be looked after by the government. That is
what he is saying—that renters are second-class citizens.
Dr D.J. Honey interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Pardon?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, I want
to hear the answer.
Dr D.J. Honey interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Cottesloe!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The member
for Cottesloe thinks that unless one has an 800-square metre home in Nedlands,
they should not bother. One should either live in an 800 or 1 000-square metre
home in Cottesloe or live on the streets. That is his comparison.
Mr J.N. Carey interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Perth, I call you to order for the first time.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Meanwhile, the former Minister for
Lands is promoting strata title reform. One of the first letters I received was
from the member for Vasse dated 28 March 2017. It commenced —
I am writing to you to seek your
Government's support for new strata title laws to be introduced as a priority
when Parliament begins.
That is modern thinking! The member
for Scarborough has been engaged positively in the debate, attending briefings,
and basically making a positive contribution, and she too wrote to me late last
year saying, ''I know the former Minister for Lands had prepared the
legislation; I want you to bring it in as soon as possible.'' I do not
know where it is at, but if this is the new policy mastermind of the
opposition, those who believe that we are forcing —
Mr W.J. Johnston : Make him
leader!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Make him
leader! I look forward to the debate this afternoon.
question.
(1)–(2) The
proposed reforms have been a long time coming—five years in drafting
and consultation. I acknowledge the work, as I always do, of the previous
Minister for Lands, for starting that project and making sure that the process
started to make sure we modernise our strata title system. The community has
changed, in case no-one has realised. There is more desire for mixed-use
developments and older people want to live in their suburbs in their old age.
There are more mixed-use developments. Communities want to share the cost of
infrastructure and there is more flexibility to use such things as solar panels
and renewable energy.
The proposed strata reforms will
address all this and they will also increase the transparency and clarity of
the strata system, which we know is outdated. A couple of aspects of that, of
course, are the creation of community titles and leasehold strata. This is all
about giving people real choice of where they live in their communities. That
is not just about density and liveability; it is about giving younger people
the chance to live in the suburb they know and older people the opportunity to
downsize in the suburb they know and where they know the doctors and the
shopping centre.
I was shocked to see the member for
Cottesloe's comments in the paper. He said —
''It
is clear that the key figures in WA Labor have a deep, even bitter dislike of
this dream and are determined to force us into high-density, collective
accommodation that we don't even own,'' ...
The Cold War is over, member for Cottesloe.
The idea that giving people choice in housing and that renters are second-class
citizens in WA comes from the member for Cottesloe. Somehow, if one does not
own their own home, they should not be looked after by the government. That is
what he is saying—that renters are second-class citizens.
Dr D.J. Honey interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Pardon?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members, I want
to hear the answer.
Dr D.J. Honey interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Cottesloe!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : The member
for Cottesloe thinks that unless one has an 800-square metre home in Nedlands,
they should not bother. One should either live in an 800 or 1 000-square metre
home in Cottesloe or live on the streets. That is his comparison.
Mr J.N. Carey interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Perth, I call you to order for the first time.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Meanwhile, the former Minister for
Lands is promoting strata title reform. One of the first letters I received was
from the member for Vasse dated 28 March 2017. It commenced —
I am writing to you to seek your
Government's support for new strata title laws to be introduced as a priority
when Parliament begins.
That is modern thinking! The member
for Scarborough has been engaged positively in the debate, attending briefings,
and basically making a positive contribution, and she too wrote to me late last
year saying, ''I know the former Minister for Lands had prepared the
legislation; I want you to bring it in as soon as possible.'' I do not
know where it is at, but if this is the new policy mastermind of the
opposition, those who believe that we are forcing —
Mr W.J. Johnston : Make him
leader!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Make him
leader! I look forward to the debate this afternoon.
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