❓ Mrs. Clarke inquires about collaboration between the WA and Federal Labor governments regarding the Housing Australia Future Fund and seeks awareness of opposition to housing investment. Minister Carey responds positively, highlighting the fund's benefits and criticizing the Liberal and National parties' opposition.
AnsweredQoN 637Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SOCIAL HOUSING —
HOUSING AUSTRALIA FUTURE FUND
637. Mrs R.M.J. CLARKE to the Minister for Housing
I would also like to acknowledge in
the Speaker's gallery today the wonderful Bindjareb mob from the Harvey
Aboriginal Corporation and thank them for all their cultural awareness of my
region.
I
refer to the Cook Labor government's commitment to deliver 4 000
additional social homes across Western Australia.
(1) Can the minister advise the house how this
government is working with the federal Labor government to deliver thousands of additional affordable homes in Western
Australia through the Housing Australia Future Fund?
(2) Can the minister advise the house if he is aware
of anyone who opposes this important investment in housing?
HOUSING AUSTRALIA FUTURE FUND
637. Mrs R.M.J. CLARKE to the Minister for Housing
I would also like to acknowledge in
the Speaker's gallery today the wonderful Bindjareb mob from the Harvey
Aboriginal Corporation and thank them for all their cultural awareness of my
region.
I
refer to the Cook Labor government's commitment to deliver 4 000
additional social homes across Western Australia.
(1) Can the minister advise the house how this
government is working with the federal Labor government to deliver thousands of additional affordable homes in Western
Australia through the Housing Australia Future Fund?
(2) Can the minister advise the house if he is aware
of anyone who opposes this important investment in housing?
AnswerView source ↗
I want to —
Mr W.J. Johnston interjected.
Mr J.N. CAREY : Yes, I might.
I want to thank the member for her question.
(1)–(2) As
members may be aware, there is fantastic news from the federal Parliament that
the Housing Australia Future Fund Bill has
now passed through Parliament. What that means for all Australians is a very
ambitious program with a clear fund. That $10 billion fund will generate
ongoing income for investment in social and affordable housing. Although it has
a very bold target of 30 000 affordable and social homes, it guarantees that
$500 million each year will be invested in that housing and that states will be
given an individual guarantee of 1 200 homes. I am really excited by this ambitious
program that will match the work that we are undertaking with our $2.6 billion
program in social housing and homelessness to deliver 4 000 homes.
It took a bit to get there and I am
pleased to see that finally the Greens came to the table, but it is sad to note
that the Liberal and National Parties opposed this fund. In fact, the federal
Liberal shadow Minister for Housing, Hon
Michael Sukkar, said it is ''utterly ridiculous''. I find that
the Liberals and Nationals are isolated on housing and planning matters.
In fact, industry stakeholders, community housing, social housing and everyone
else who is deeply concerned about housing, has endorsed our program and the
federal government. In fact, I note that the Community Housing Industry
Association's chief executive officer said —
''If we look back over the
last 10 years, there have not been any federal government programs of note,''
�
That
is a brilliant description of the previous Liberal–National federal
government. It took no action on housing. In fact, it finished and cut
funding for housing in remote communities. As a result, our state government
had to step in.
Of course, we see a similar picture
at a state level. The Liberal and National Parties have no policies on housing or planning. As the Minister for Transport
highlighted yesterday, the shadow Minister for Planning is focused on
traffic in Cottesloe. The primary focus of members opposite is traffic in
Cottesloe. Every state in Australia is
facing incredible housing challenges. The national cabinet says that we must
streamline planning approvals and processes, and that is what our state
is doing. We are working on a second package of planning reforms to boost
housing supply. What do we see from the Liberals and Nationals? They want more
red tape by opposing significant pathways that will oppose major housing
development, and their primary focus for their planning spokesperson is traffic
in Cottesloe. If that is not a demonstration that that side is completely out of touch, that all they care about is
traffic in Cottesloe, we face a very clear choice at the next election
between a side that has not one policy on streamlining housing approvals versus
this side that has a very clear record and an ambitious agenda to deliver
housing for all Western Australians.
Mr W.J. Johnston interjected.
Mr J.N. CAREY : Yes, I might.
I want to thank the member for her question.
(1)–(2) As
members may be aware, there is fantastic news from the federal Parliament that
the Housing Australia Future Fund Bill has
now passed through Parliament. What that means for all Australians is a very
ambitious program with a clear fund. That $10 billion fund will generate
ongoing income for investment in social and affordable housing. Although it has
a very bold target of 30 000 affordable and social homes, it guarantees that
$500 million each year will be invested in that housing and that states will be
given an individual guarantee of 1 200 homes. I am really excited by this ambitious
program that will match the work that we are undertaking with our $2.6 billion
program in social housing and homelessness to deliver 4 000 homes.
It took a bit to get there and I am
pleased to see that finally the Greens came to the table, but it is sad to note
that the Liberal and National Parties opposed this fund. In fact, the federal
Liberal shadow Minister for Housing, Hon
Michael Sukkar, said it is ''utterly ridiculous''. I find that
the Liberals and Nationals are isolated on housing and planning matters.
In fact, industry stakeholders, community housing, social housing and everyone
else who is deeply concerned about housing, has endorsed our program and the
federal government. In fact, I note that the Community Housing Industry
Association's chief executive officer said —
''If we look back over the
last 10 years, there have not been any federal government programs of note,''
�
That
is a brilliant description of the previous Liberal–National federal
government. It took no action on housing. In fact, it finished and cut
funding for housing in remote communities. As a result, our state government
had to step in.
Of course, we see a similar picture
at a state level. The Liberal and National Parties have no policies on housing or planning. As the Minister for Transport
highlighted yesterday, the shadow Minister for Planning is focused on
traffic in Cottesloe. The primary focus of members opposite is traffic in
Cottesloe. Every state in Australia is
facing incredible housing challenges. The national cabinet says that we must
streamline planning approvals and processes, and that is what our state
is doing. We are working on a second package of planning reforms to boost
housing supply. What do we see from the Liberals and Nationals? They want more
red tape by opposing significant pathways that will oppose major housing
development, and their primary focus for their planning spokesperson is traffic
in Cottesloe. If that is not a demonstration that that side is completely out of touch, that all they care about is
traffic in Cottesloe, we face a very clear choice at the next election
between a side that has not one policy on streamlining housing approvals versus
this side that has a very clear record and an ambitious agenda to deliver
housing for all Western Australians.
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