❓ Premier Cook outlines the government's efforts to increase housing supply in WA, highlighting building starts, completions, dwelling approvals, and partnerships with the federal government. He criticises the Liberal Party's opposition to the Housing Australia Future Fund.
AnsweredQoN 60Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Housing—Supply60.Mr Daniel Pastorellito the Premier:I refer to the Cook Labor government's continued focus on
growing Western Australia's housing supply so that every Western Australian has
a home.(1) Can the Premier outline to the house how this
government's efforts have delivered an increase in the number of houses being
built in WA?(2) Can the Premier advise the house what steps
this government is taking to continue boosting the delivery of new homes?
growing Western Australia's housing supply so that every Western Australian has
a home.(1) Can the Premier outline to the house how this
government's efforts have delivered an increase in the number of houses being
built in WA?(2) Can the Premier advise the house what steps
this government is taking to continue boosting the delivery of new homes?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
30 April 2025
Response time
0 days
Mr Roger Cook replied:(1)–(2) I thank the member for his
question, and I congratulate him on his excellent inaugural speech yesterday. I
join Mr Speaker in acknowledging the former members of Parliament in the
galleries today—Joe Francis in the public gallery and Tony Krsticevic
in the Speaker's gallery. Tony's presence reminds me that they do not make
members for Carine like they used to!The latest data has confirmed
that building starts and completions continue to grow in Western Australia.
Nearly 21,000 homes were built in 2024. That is the highest level in over seven
years. Meanwhile, there have been more than 22,000 dwelling approvals over the
past year, and in a state that very much needs more housing, this is welcome
news. We are seeing this progress because we have a federal and state
government partnership pursuing a shared vision for more housing. It has involved
attention from all angles—getting more people on the tools through
training and workforce incentives, making investment more attractive through
stamp duty concessions, and making development more viable through red-tape
reduction and developer contributions. It is getting results, and we have
thousands more homes in the pipeline.This
morning my colleagues and I took a visit to one of the places where these new
homes will continueto take shape and what we saw was incredibly
impressive. It is on a site connected to rail, the community and our healthcare
facilities, and it is in Midland. I want to congratulate the Minister for
Housing and Works for the work that he has done in both his portfolios of
housing and lands to produce the incredible results that we were able to
announce today.In addition to Midland, which is
one of just 14 locations that have been targeted as part of the state's biggest
ever social and affordable housing works program, today we released a tender
seeking builders to deliver a pipeline of more than 1,000 new homes right
across the metropolitan area. It is part of a landmark agreement between the
Cook and Albanese Labor governments. The agreement will see the Cook government
provide up-front capital investment of $443 million. Importantly, around half
of these homes will be delivered near newly built Metronet train stations.
These connected communities will allow people to have a lower cost of living
through not only affordable housing, but also our affordable and transformative
public transport system. Developments will also be delivered in the wonderful
localities of Wellard as well as Woodbridge, White Gum Valley, Rivervale,
Butler, Subiaco, Bassendean, Kelmscott and the Perth City Link. This will build
on the progress that we have seen to date.My
government will never stop working towards ensuring every Western Australian
has a home. It does not matter where one lives, whether it is in our suburbs,
our towns or our remote communities, I want all Western Australians to have
access to local job opportunities as well as essential infrastructure and
services. This incredible announcement today was made possible because of the Housing
Australia Future Fund. This is an extraordinary fund, which supercharges our
efforts to get our homes built because of the great partnership we have with
the Albanese Labor government.There is one political party
that opposed the housing affordability future fund. One political party did
everything it could to delay and oppose this legislation—to bring it
on. That is the party that is represented opposite, the Liberal Party. Peter
Dutton does not get housing. Peter Dutton does not understand the importance
for Australians everywhere to be able to have a housing opportunity.Ms Libby Mettaminterjected.Mr Roger Cook:I take the interjection from the member
for Vasse, who said that they cannot deliver. Do members know why there have
been delays? It is because of her political party. Her political party opposed
this legislation in the Federal Parliament. It delayed this legislation in the
Federal Parliament. Because of the partnership with the Albanese Labor
government, my government is getting on and building homes. It is a reminder to
everyone in Western Australia that if they want Western Australia to go forward
and if they want to see more great housing products like this, they need to make
sure they vote for Labor and not Peter Dutton.
Housing—Supply
question, and I congratulate him on his excellent inaugural speech yesterday. I
join Mr Speaker in acknowledging the former members of Parliament in the
galleries today—Joe Francis in the public gallery and Tony Krsticevic
in the Speaker's gallery. Tony's presence reminds me that they do not make
members for Carine like they used to!The latest data has confirmed
that building starts and completions continue to grow in Western Australia.
Nearly 21,000 homes were built in 2024. That is the highest level in over seven
years. Meanwhile, there have been more than 22,000 dwelling approvals over the
past year, and in a state that very much needs more housing, this is welcome
news. We are seeing this progress because we have a federal and state
government partnership pursuing a shared vision for more housing. It has involved
attention from all angles—getting more people on the tools through
training and workforce incentives, making investment more attractive through
stamp duty concessions, and making development more viable through red-tape
reduction and developer contributions. It is getting results, and we have
thousands more homes in the pipeline.This
morning my colleagues and I took a visit to one of the places where these new
homes will continueto take shape and what we saw was incredibly
impressive. It is on a site connected to rail, the community and our healthcare
facilities, and it is in Midland. I want to congratulate the Minister for
Housing and Works for the work that he has done in both his portfolios of
housing and lands to produce the incredible results that we were able to
announce today.In addition to Midland, which is
one of just 14 locations that have been targeted as part of the state's biggest
ever social and affordable housing works program, today we released a tender
seeking builders to deliver a pipeline of more than 1,000 new homes right
across the metropolitan area. It is part of a landmark agreement between the
Cook and Albanese Labor governments. The agreement will see the Cook government
provide up-front capital investment of $443 million. Importantly, around half
of these homes will be delivered near newly built Metronet train stations.
These connected communities will allow people to have a lower cost of living
through not only affordable housing, but also our affordable and transformative
public transport system. Developments will also be delivered in the wonderful
localities of Wellard as well as Woodbridge, White Gum Valley, Rivervale,
Butler, Subiaco, Bassendean, Kelmscott and the Perth City Link. This will build
on the progress that we have seen to date.My
government will never stop working towards ensuring every Western Australian
has a home. It does not matter where one lives, whether it is in our suburbs,
our towns or our remote communities, I want all Western Australians to have
access to local job opportunities as well as essential infrastructure and
services. This incredible announcement today was made possible because of the Housing
Australia Future Fund. This is an extraordinary fund, which supercharges our
efforts to get our homes built because of the great partnership we have with
the Albanese Labor government.There is one political party
that opposed the housing affordability future fund. One political party did
everything it could to delay and oppose this legislation—to bring it
on. That is the party that is represented opposite, the Liberal Party. Peter
Dutton does not get housing. Peter Dutton does not understand the importance
for Australians everywhere to be able to have a housing opportunity.Ms Libby Mettaminterjected.Mr Roger Cook:I take the interjection from the member
for Vasse, who said that they cannot deliver. Do members know why there have
been delays? It is because of her political party. Her political party opposed
this legislation in the Federal Parliament. It delayed this legislation in the
Federal Parliament. Because of the partnership with the Albanese Labor
government, my government is getting on and building homes. It is a reminder to
everyone in Western Australia that if they want Western Australia to go forward
and if they want to see more great housing products like this, they need to make
sure they vote for Labor and not Peter Dutton.
Housing—Supply
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