❓ Question on the progress of the Liberal-National government's affordable housing strategy to deliver 20,000 additional affordable homes by 2020. The Minister provides an update, highlighting achievements and contrasting them with the previous Labor government's lack of strategy.
AnsweredQoN 397Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
AFFORDABLE
HOUSING STRATEGY
397. Ms A.R. MITCHELL to the Minister for Housing:
The Liberal–National government's affordable
housing strategy sets the ambitious target of delivering at least 20 000
additional affordable homes by 2020. Can the minister please update the house
on the progress already made on this strategy?
HOUSING STRATEGY
397. Ms A.R. MITCHELL to the Minister for Housing:
The Liberal–National government's affordable
housing strategy sets the ambitious target of delivering at least 20 000
additional affordable homes by 2020. Can the minister please update the house
on the progress already made on this strategy?
AnswerView source ↗
Mr Speaker, unlike a lot of my colleagues, I do not think you
look a day over 60.
Several members interjected.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : I
thank the member for Kingsley for the question and certainly for her interest
in the progress of the Liberal–National government's housing
affordability strategy. Obviously, the target of 20 000 affordable homes by
2020 is a very ambitious target. I can say to the member for Kingsley that we
are well on the way. The strategy responds to the —
Mr D.A. Templeman interjected.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : I
will tell the member one difference: it is really interesting that this
government actually has a strategy!
Mr D.A. Templeman interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Mandurah, I formally call you to order for the first time today.
Mr D.T. REDMAN :
The strategy responds to what we all know to be the acute shortage of
affordable homes for those on low to moderate income levels. We also understand
that the strategy follows a philosophy that public housing should be part of
the journey, not the final destination. The affordability strategy targets not
only social housing, but also affordable housing at various levels. I must
highlight that in the housing market in Western Australia now, there is pretty
much stress at every level. But this government has a strategy to address that,
which is a far cry from where we were back in the Labor days when it did not
even have a strategy to respond to that stress. The bold and entrepreneurial
approach that this government is taking has already created more than 6 200
affordable homes, helping thousands of individuals and families. This
government has significantly supported the housing industry through a very
difficult time in the housing market.
I will go through a few examples. We have built over 3 400
new social houses and committed another $130 million in this year's
budget for a further 433 houses.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Nollamara, if you wish to make some comment about this, I suggest
there is a better way. You know how to do that. I am formally going to call you
to order for the first time today.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : We
have provided an additional $204.8 million over three years for housing and
support services for 455 people with high-support needs to live in the
community. We have also freed up and reallocated 1 350 public houses by
assisting over-income tenants to find alternative accommodation. It is not just
about building houses; it is also about ensuring that those who are in those
houses are eligible applicants. Under the national rental affordability scheme,
we have completed over 550 dwellings, started construction of another 1 000
dwellings and committed funding for an additional 1 000 dwellings, bringing our
state's total commitment to 6 000 new homes by 2016 under that scheme.
Under Keystart, we have helped over 1 900 households that could not otherwise
access finance to own their own home.
Mr T.R. Buswell :
And all in the last month!
Mr C.J. Barnett :
What a great minister!
Mr D.T. REDMAN :
All in a month. We have contracted nearly 600 entry-level affordable homes in
partnership with the private sector through a new expression of interest
process and helped 190 households with average family incomes of only $66 000
to buy their own home through a new SharedStart shared equity arrangement. That
is another innovative approach being taken by this government. We have exceeded
targets for remote Indigenous housing, having constructed 230 houses and
refurbished a further 745, resulting in Western Australia getting a bonus
payment from the federal government for its capacity to deliver on that target.
We have approved $355.5 million of royalties for regions funding for the
Housing our Workers program, in addition to the 388 dwellings that have already
been completed for Government Regional Officers' Housing and for
employees of non-government organisations. We have produced nearly 5 000
building lots through the Housing Authority and its joint venture partners. We
have started bringing affordable housing back into the CBD. Also, under the
leadership of the Minister for Planning, we have established 15 development
assessment panels to expedite the approvals process. Of course, we have also
established the Office of Land and Housing Supply to help fast-track those
important projects. With that record, we have certainly made good progress, but
we also acknowledge the challenge that is out there. We are certainly in some
unique economic times, but with the innovation that this government is showing
by taking a very entrepreneurial approach to how we deal with houses across the
whole housing continuum, we are well on our way to achieving our goal of 20 000
affordable homes by 2020.
look a day over 60.
Several members interjected.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : I
thank the member for Kingsley for the question and certainly for her interest
in the progress of the Liberal–National government's housing
affordability strategy. Obviously, the target of 20 000 affordable homes by
2020 is a very ambitious target. I can say to the member for Kingsley that we
are well on the way. The strategy responds to the —
Mr D.A. Templeman interjected.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : I
will tell the member one difference: it is really interesting that this
government actually has a strategy!
Mr D.A. Templeman interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Mandurah, I formally call you to order for the first time today.
Mr D.T. REDMAN :
The strategy responds to what we all know to be the acute shortage of
affordable homes for those on low to moderate income levels. We also understand
that the strategy follows a philosophy that public housing should be part of
the journey, not the final destination. The affordability strategy targets not
only social housing, but also affordable housing at various levels. I must
highlight that in the housing market in Western Australia now, there is pretty
much stress at every level. But this government has a strategy to address that,
which is a far cry from where we were back in the Labor days when it did not
even have a strategy to respond to that stress. The bold and entrepreneurial
approach that this government is taking has already created more than 6 200
affordable homes, helping thousands of individuals and families. This
government has significantly supported the housing industry through a very
difficult time in the housing market.
I will go through a few examples. We have built over 3 400
new social houses and committed another $130 million in this year's
budget for a further 433 houses.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Nollamara, if you wish to make some comment about this, I suggest
there is a better way. You know how to do that. I am formally going to call you
to order for the first time today.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : We
have provided an additional $204.8 million over three years for housing and
support services for 455 people with high-support needs to live in the
community. We have also freed up and reallocated 1 350 public houses by
assisting over-income tenants to find alternative accommodation. It is not just
about building houses; it is also about ensuring that those who are in those
houses are eligible applicants. Under the national rental affordability scheme,
we have completed over 550 dwellings, started construction of another 1 000
dwellings and committed funding for an additional 1 000 dwellings, bringing our
state's total commitment to 6 000 new homes by 2016 under that scheme.
Under Keystart, we have helped over 1 900 households that could not otherwise
access finance to own their own home.
Mr T.R. Buswell :
And all in the last month!
Mr C.J. Barnett :
What a great minister!
Mr D.T. REDMAN :
All in a month. We have contracted nearly 600 entry-level affordable homes in
partnership with the private sector through a new expression of interest
process and helped 190 households with average family incomes of only $66 000
to buy their own home through a new SharedStart shared equity arrangement. That
is another innovative approach being taken by this government. We have exceeded
targets for remote Indigenous housing, having constructed 230 houses and
refurbished a further 745, resulting in Western Australia getting a bonus
payment from the federal government for its capacity to deliver on that target.
We have approved $355.5 million of royalties for regions funding for the
Housing our Workers program, in addition to the 388 dwellings that have already
been completed for Government Regional Officers' Housing and for
employees of non-government organisations. We have produced nearly 5 000
building lots through the Housing Authority and its joint venture partners. We
have started bringing affordable housing back into the CBD. Also, under the
leadership of the Minister for Planning, we have established 15 development
assessment panels to expedite the approvals process. Of course, we have also
established the Office of Land and Housing Supply to help fast-track those
important projects. With that record, we have certainly made good progress, but
we also acknowledge the challenge that is out there. We are certainly in some
unique economic times, but with the innovation that this government is showing
by taking a very entrepreneurial approach to how we deal with houses across the
whole housing continuum, we are well on our way to achieving our goal of 20 000
affordable homes by 2020.
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