❓ Mr. Love questions the Premier about prolonged home build times in WA and the timing of skilled tradie relocation incentives. The Premier deflects blame to the previous Liberal/National government, highlighting current investments and planning reforms while warning of potential setbacks under the opposition.
AnsweredQoN 761Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HOME CONSTRUCTION — BUILD TIMES
761. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Premier:
I refer to the Premier's
government's commitment to pull every lever to tackle the housing
crisis. Recent data from the Master Builders Association of Western Australia
shows that Western Australia's average home build time is the longest
in the country at 17.88 months, far exceeding the national average of 12
months.
(1) Does this prolonged timeline indicate a failure of
the Premier's government to implement effective policies to
support a streamlined construction process?
(2) Why are
relocation incentives for skilled tradies only now being introduced despite
persistent issues in the Western Australian construction sector over recent
years?
Ms R. Saffioti interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please.
761. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Premier:
I refer to the Premier's
government's commitment to pull every lever to tackle the housing
crisis. Recent data from the Master Builders Association of Western Australia
shows that Western Australia's average home build time is the longest
in the country at 17.88 months, far exceeding the national average of 12
months.
(1) Does this prolonged timeline indicate a failure of
the Premier's government to implement effective policies to
support a streamlined construction process?
(2) Why are
relocation incentives for skilled tradies only now being introduced despite
persistent issues in the Western Australian construction sector over recent
years?
Ms R. Saffioti interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please.
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) Madam
Speaker, we could be here all day explaining how the Liberals and Nationals
wrecked our housing industry. That includes the fact that they defunded TAFE
and hiked TAFE fees up. That could include the fact they tied up builders in
red tape through neglecting planning reform, and they have vowed to do it again.
We have invested a record amount of $3.2 billion to get more homes built across
the state and we are constantly looking at new ways to get the job done. We are
leading the nation on planning reforms to cut red tape.
Again, everyone has to be crystal
clear on this: planning reform will go backwards under the Liberals and
Nationals. If there are any delays now in housing and construction, it will
increase tenfold under the Liberals and Nationals. They are a risk to the
economy and they are a risk to housing. We are leading the nation on planning reforms to get more boots on
the ground to build homes. We are subsidising construction apprentices,
supporting businesses and building the number of skilled workers to boost our
critical residential construction workforce. Right now in WA, there are more
than 11 000 apprentices and trainees in the
pipeline getting building, construction and electrical qualifications. We are
making sure that we have the people to make stuff here in Western Australia.
The completion rate for WA construction apprentices is amongst the highest in
the country.
Last financial year, housing
completions were at the highest rate in six years. Almost 18 000 homes were
built. The federal government has set a stretch target for us of 25 000. We know
we can get there, but we have to do it sustainably by making sure that we
continue to grow the workforce. How do we grow the workforce? We grow it by
having workers. How do we get the workers? We get them by investing in TAFE and
making sure that we make TAFE affordable and accessible for those key jobs.
Madam Speaker, we are doing literally everything.
In relation to the time that it takes
to build a home, in Western Australia, we have a double-brick culture. It is a key
part of the fact that Western Australian homes take longer to build. That is
against timber frame, brick veneer and other forms. There is no bigger
supporter or champion of diversity in housing than the current Minister for
Housing. He has looked at all modes and types of build to make sure we continue
to bring diversity into our housing market. The Master Builders Association of Western
Australia's CEO, Matthew Pollock, said that Western Australia and South
Australia are the only two states to have moved closer to their targets, which
is a testament to the state government's efforts. That is a reference
to the increase in completions that we are getting.
We know we are shifting the dial.
However, we also know there are going to be risks in front of us over the next
four months—that is, if people risk their vote on the Liberals and
Nationals. We know that they hate investing in TAFE and training. We could see
more cuts to TAFE and higher TAFE fees. We know that they hate the idea of
planning reforms. We could see more of these building companies tied up,
tangled up, tethered and trussed up in red tape brought on by those opposite.
We know that there is only one government in Western Australia that will
continue to have a record build of social and affordable housing, and that is a
WA Labor government.
Speaker, we could be here all day explaining how the Liberals and Nationals
wrecked our housing industry. That includes the fact that they defunded TAFE
and hiked TAFE fees up. That could include the fact they tied up builders in
red tape through neglecting planning reform, and they have vowed to do it again.
We have invested a record amount of $3.2 billion to get more homes built across
the state and we are constantly looking at new ways to get the job done. We are
leading the nation on planning reforms to cut red tape.
Again, everyone has to be crystal
clear on this: planning reform will go backwards under the Liberals and
Nationals. If there are any delays now in housing and construction, it will
increase tenfold under the Liberals and Nationals. They are a risk to the
economy and they are a risk to housing. We are leading the nation on planning reforms to get more boots on
the ground to build homes. We are subsidising construction apprentices,
supporting businesses and building the number of skilled workers to boost our
critical residential construction workforce. Right now in WA, there are more
than 11 000 apprentices and trainees in the
pipeline getting building, construction and electrical qualifications. We are
making sure that we have the people to make stuff here in Western Australia.
The completion rate for WA construction apprentices is amongst the highest in
the country.
Last financial year, housing
completions were at the highest rate in six years. Almost 18 000 homes were
built. The federal government has set a stretch target for us of 25 000. We know
we can get there, but we have to do it sustainably by making sure that we
continue to grow the workforce. How do we grow the workforce? We grow it by
having workers. How do we get the workers? We get them by investing in TAFE and
making sure that we make TAFE affordable and accessible for those key jobs.
Madam Speaker, we are doing literally everything.
In relation to the time that it takes
to build a home, in Western Australia, we have a double-brick culture. It is a key
part of the fact that Western Australian homes take longer to build. That is
against timber frame, brick veneer and other forms. There is no bigger
supporter or champion of diversity in housing than the current Minister for
Housing. He has looked at all modes and types of build to make sure we continue
to bring diversity into our housing market. The Master Builders Association of Western
Australia's CEO, Matthew Pollock, said that Western Australia and South
Australia are the only two states to have moved closer to their targets, which
is a testament to the state government's efforts. That is a reference
to the increase in completions that we are getting.
We know we are shifting the dial.
However, we also know there are going to be risks in front of us over the next
four months—that is, if people risk their vote on the Liberals and
Nationals. We know that they hate investing in TAFE and training. We could see
more cuts to TAFE and higher TAFE fees. We know that they hate the idea of
planning reforms. We could see more of these building companies tied up,
tangled up, tethered and trussed up in red tape brought on by those opposite.
We know that there is only one government in Western Australia that will
continue to have a record build of social and affordable housing, and that is a
WA Labor government.
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