❓ Question on housing planning reforms. Minister outlines benefits, highlights national alignment, and criticizes opposition inconsistencies.
AnsweredQoN 117Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HOUSING —
PLANNING REFORM
117. Mrs R.M.J. CLARKE to the Minister for Planning:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's
major planning reforms, which came into effect this month.
(1) Can the minister outline to the house how these
significant reforms will help boost housing delivery and supply?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house if he is aware of anyone who does not support this
government's actions to deliver more housing options?
PLANNING REFORM
117. Mrs R.M.J. CLARKE to the Minister for Planning:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's
major planning reforms, which came into effect this month.
(1) Can the minister outline to the house how these
significant reforms will help boost housing delivery and supply?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house if he is aware of anyone who does not support this
government's actions to deliver more housing options?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
want to thank the member for her question. As we know, every state in the
country is facing the same scenario with housing supply and construction
markets. As part of that, there is a national approach to tackle the red tape
around housing supply. The National Planning Reform Blueprint, agreed to by
national cabinet, is about cutting unnecessary red tape to get out the critical
housing that we need.
Of course, we brought in our
significant reforms, which were passed last year and were successfully introduced, as promised, on 1 March this year. It
creates a number of different reforms, including consolidating the
development assessment panel system with greater transparency, a new significant
development pathway for major housing projects worth over $20 million in the
metropolitan area and $5 million in the regions. There has been a raft of other
changes that are about bringing information online.
I
note that our reforms are now considered nation leading. They are considered
the best in the country. I note Michael
McGowan, the credible leader of the Housing Industry Association, said about
our reforms —
� provide clarity to major projects,
group and multi-dwellings and single dwellings, that they can go through that
process in a speedy time frame, reducing holding costs for builders and,
ultimately, helping affordability and housing supply for Western Australia.
The sector is saying our reforms are
critical for housing affordability and supply. The messages from across there
are very mixed. I note that the Leader of the Liberal Party claimed credit. She
said we have —
� a long history of support for
consultation at the beginning of the planning process. We need to ensure there
is independence at the development level of decision-making, and that is why
the Liberal–National government introduced the development assessment
panels. We need to ensure developers can deliver an affordable product and have
efficient systems to work within.
There we go. We have a ringing
endorsement from the leader of the Liberals. She forgot to tell the person
right next door. This is really about the Liberal leader's leadership.
She is the leader, she is in control, she has ''The Clan'' at
bay, even though every Clan member has been preselected currently, and the
person sitting next to her is out and about opposing the planning reforms.
Dr D.J. Honey : We know who controls you. We saw it.
Mr J.N. CAREY : Actually, this is really interesting. Who
replaced the member for Cottesloe? It is the head of the Property
Council, who endorsed the planning reforms. And we are the ones in bed! The
Liberal Party has picked the leader of the Property Council and is replacing
the member. The member for Cottesloe said —
The DAPs and the Western Australian
Planning Commission have consistently shown that they totally disregard them.
We have the leader of the Liberals endorsing it and the
person next door opposing it. But worse still, he gets basic facts wrong. He
went to the Subiaco Post and said that all planning authority for a local
council is delegated to the CEO. He said in Parliament —
I
said to some colleagues recently that the CEO of the Shire of Peppermint Grove
could approve a 20-storey tower on Bindaring Parade or The Esplanade.
It is wrong. It is false information. Wrong! False! Wrong! We
have a smear and fear campaign being run by a man who is being replaced by the
head of the Property Council, ignoring the Liberal leader at any cost. This is
not the only time we have seen it. The Leader of the Liberal Party said,
according to my notes —
We will
support any measure that takes the pressure off housing on granny flats.
Her new deputy said
something completely different. He said that the changes and reforms around
granny flats will not address WA's rental issues. The Deputy Leader of
the Liberal Party contradicted the Leader of the Liberal Party. In two
instances, two different members of the Liberal frontbench undermined and
contradicted the Liberal leader. This demonstrates a complete lack of policy
work. It is a complete vacuum at every opportunity and now multiple Liberal
members have undermined the Liberal leadership. It is very clear that they are
not fit to govern.
want to thank the member for her question. As we know, every state in the
country is facing the same scenario with housing supply and construction
markets. As part of that, there is a national approach to tackle the red tape
around housing supply. The National Planning Reform Blueprint, agreed to by
national cabinet, is about cutting unnecessary red tape to get out the critical
housing that we need.
Of course, we brought in our
significant reforms, which were passed last year and were successfully introduced, as promised, on 1 March this year. It
creates a number of different reforms, including consolidating the
development assessment panel system with greater transparency, a new significant
development pathway for major housing projects worth over $20 million in the
metropolitan area and $5 million in the regions. There has been a raft of other
changes that are about bringing information online.
I
note that our reforms are now considered nation leading. They are considered
the best in the country. I note Michael
McGowan, the credible leader of the Housing Industry Association, said about
our reforms —
� provide clarity to major projects,
group and multi-dwellings and single dwellings, that they can go through that
process in a speedy time frame, reducing holding costs for builders and,
ultimately, helping affordability and housing supply for Western Australia.
The sector is saying our reforms are
critical for housing affordability and supply. The messages from across there
are very mixed. I note that the Leader of the Liberal Party claimed credit. She
said we have —
� a long history of support for
consultation at the beginning of the planning process. We need to ensure there
is independence at the development level of decision-making, and that is why
the Liberal–National government introduced the development assessment
panels. We need to ensure developers can deliver an affordable product and have
efficient systems to work within.
There we go. We have a ringing
endorsement from the leader of the Liberals. She forgot to tell the person
right next door. This is really about the Liberal leader's leadership.
She is the leader, she is in control, she has ''The Clan'' at
bay, even though every Clan member has been preselected currently, and the
person sitting next to her is out and about opposing the planning reforms.
Dr D.J. Honey : We know who controls you. We saw it.
Mr J.N. CAREY : Actually, this is really interesting. Who
replaced the member for Cottesloe? It is the head of the Property
Council, who endorsed the planning reforms. And we are the ones in bed! The
Liberal Party has picked the leader of the Property Council and is replacing
the member. The member for Cottesloe said —
The DAPs and the Western Australian
Planning Commission have consistently shown that they totally disregard them.
We have the leader of the Liberals endorsing it and the
person next door opposing it. But worse still, he gets basic facts wrong. He
went to the Subiaco Post and said that all planning authority for a local
council is delegated to the CEO. He said in Parliament —
I
said to some colleagues recently that the CEO of the Shire of Peppermint Grove
could approve a 20-storey tower on Bindaring Parade or The Esplanade.
It is wrong. It is false information. Wrong! False! Wrong! We
have a smear and fear campaign being run by a man who is being replaced by the
head of the Property Council, ignoring the Liberal leader at any cost. This is
not the only time we have seen it. The Leader of the Liberal Party said,
according to my notes —
We will
support any measure that takes the pressure off housing on granny flats.
Her new deputy said
something completely different. He said that the changes and reforms around
granny flats will not address WA's rental issues. The Deputy Leader of
the Liberal Party contradicted the Leader of the Liberal Party. In two
instances, two different members of the Liberal frontbench undermined and
contradicted the Liberal leader. This demonstrates a complete lack of policy
work. It is a complete vacuum at every opportunity and now multiple Liberal
members have undermined the Liberal leadership. It is very clear that they are
not fit to govern.
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