❓ The WA parliamentary question seeks data on Government Regional Officer Housing (GROH) and public housing stock in specific locations from 2017-2025. The answer provides data from 2018-2025 and includes commentary blaming the previous government for housing issues.
AnsweredQoN 606Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to Government housing programs, and I ask for each of the following locations, please provide Government Regional Officer Housing stock figures and public housing stock figures in each year for the years 2017 through to 2025: (a) Karratha; (b) Port Hedland; (c) Marble Bar; (d) Newman; (e) Nullagine; (f) Onslow; and (g) Exmouth?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
16 October 2025
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Housing and Works
Response time
5 days
(a – g)
In 2015, the former Liberal National Government introduced an aggressive sales program of GROH homes in 2015, to cover a $180 million debt they had accrued in the program. Due to this financial mismanagement, more than 600 GROH homes were sold in the proceding years to cover this significant debt.
The State Government inherited significantly ageing and inappropriate public housing stock that had not been maintained or refurbished and was in poor condition, due to the mismanagement of the previous Liberal–National Government.
Under the former Liberal–National government, many hundreds of social homes that counted towards their social housing numbers lay vacant and derelict with no plans to redevelop them, including over 160 uninhabitable apartments in Brownlie Towers alone.
GROH and Public Housing stock is reported by local government area.
Government Regional Officer Housing (GROH) Stock in below LGA’s as at the Specified Reporting Dates
Reporting Date
City of Karratha
Town of Port Hedland
Shire of East Pilbara
Shire of Ashburton
Shire of Exmouth
as at 30 June 2018
600
405
181
137
53
as at 30 June 2019
581
397
174
137
53
as at 30 June 2020
579
389
172
138
52
as at 30 June 2021
610
399
168
141
52
as at 30 June 2022
629
400
169
145
53
as at 30 June 2023
655
437
173
139
52
as at 30 June 2024
685
443
174
141
55
as at 30 June 2025
691
445
174
151
56
Public Housing Stock in below LGA's as at the Specified Reporting Dates
Reporting Date
City of Karratha
Town of Port Hedland
Shire of East Pilbara
Shire of Ashburton
Shire of Exmouth
as at 30 June 2018
670
603
96
63
87
as at 30 June 2019
659
594
92
63
84
as at 30 June 2020
644
588
91
63
83
as at 30 June 2021
644
579
91
63
83
as at 30 June 2022
658
585
98
65
83
as at 30 June 2023
659
598
101
69
83
as at 30 June 2024
670
607
105
72
83
as at 30 June 2025
679
610
104
74
83
In 2015, the former Liberal National Government introduced an aggressive sales program of GROH homes in 2015, to cover a $180 million debt they had accrued in the program. Due to this financial mismanagement, more than 600 GROH homes were sold in the proceding years to cover this significant debt.
The State Government inherited significantly ageing and inappropriate public housing stock that had not been maintained or refurbished and was in poor condition, due to the mismanagement of the previous Liberal–National Government.
Under the former Liberal–National government, many hundreds of social homes that counted towards their social housing numbers lay vacant and derelict with no plans to redevelop them, including over 160 uninhabitable apartments in Brownlie Towers alone.
GROH and Public Housing stock is reported by local government area.
Government Regional Officer Housing (GROH) Stock in below LGA’s as at the Specified Reporting Dates
Reporting Date
City of Karratha
Town of Port Hedland
Shire of East Pilbara
Shire of Ashburton
Shire of Exmouth
as at 30 June 2018
600
405
181
137
53
as at 30 June 2019
581
397
174
137
53
as at 30 June 2020
579
389
172
138
52
as at 30 June 2021
610
399
168
141
52
as at 30 June 2022
629
400
169
145
53
as at 30 June 2023
655
437
173
139
52
as at 30 June 2024
685
443
174
141
55
as at 30 June 2025
691
445
174
151
56
Public Housing Stock in below LGA's as at the Specified Reporting Dates
Reporting Date
City of Karratha
Town of Port Hedland
Shire of East Pilbara
Shire of Ashburton
Shire of Exmouth
as at 30 June 2018
670
603
96
63
87
as at 30 June 2019
659
594
92
63
84
as at 30 June 2020
644
588
91
63
83
as at 30 June 2021
644
579
91
63
83
as at 30 June 2022
658
585
98
65
83
as at 30 June 2023
659
598
101
69
83
as at 30 June 2024
670
607
105
72
83
as at 30 June 2025
679
610
104
74
83
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