❓ Question regarding the Cook Labor government's housing supply reforms and whether the Minister is aware of opposition to the plan. The Minister's answer defends the government's approach and criticises the Liberal Party's stance on housing density and planning.
AnsweredQoN 37Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Housing—Supply37.Ms Kim Giddensto theMinister for Planning and Lands:Mr Speaker, thank
you. I put on record yesterday my congratulations, but you were not in the
chair, so very briefly, well done. Congratulations.I refer to the Cook
Labor government's ongoing commitment to deliver nation-leading reforms.(1) Can the minister outline to the house how
these reforms will increase Western Australia's housing supply to ensure every
Western Australian has a home?(2) Can the minister advise the house if he is
aware of anyone who does not support our plan to cut unnecessary red tape and
deregulate building approvals to deliver thousands of additional new homes?
you. I put on record yesterday my congratulations, but you were not in the
chair, so very briefly, well done. Congratulations.I refer to the Cook
Labor government's ongoing commitment to deliver nation-leading reforms.(1) Can the minister outline to the house how
these reforms will increase Western Australia's housing supply to ensure every
Western Australian has a home?(2) Can the minister advise the house if he is
aware of anyone who does not support our plan to cut unnecessary red tape and
deregulate building approvals to deliver thousands of additional new homes?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
10 April 2025
Response time
0 days
Mr John Carey replied:(1)–(2) I thank the member for her
questions. As is well known, our state has been leading the nation in terms of
streamlining our approval systems for housing development in Western Australia,
cutting red tape and bringing more consistency across the system.In fact, now other states are
looking to Western Australia and our planning system. I have to say that,
unlike other states, we did not put more power back into the hands of the
planning minister. In fact, for significant projects, we created a new pathway
whereby the decision-maker is the independent WA Planning Commission. I note
that, for the first time, there are three planning directors from local
governments, who are all highly regarded and well respected.Why is this important? It is
because we know that any delay can increase holding costs and make or break a
housing project, particularly a density project. Our reforms are making a
difference and we are seeing extraordinary growth in housing approvals. I would
have hoped that we might see bipartisanship on housing and planning by the
other side, but what we saw during the election campaign was a deliberate
attempt by Liberal candidates across the board to spread fear and anti-density
platforms to try to build distrust and attack the integrity of the planning
system. For example, the Liberal candidate for Jandakot argued for an inquiry
in regard to a rezoning of private property. This is the kind of approach that
they took.I note what the current head of
the WA division of the Property Council of Australia said. She wrote an article
and her message was:I have a free piece of advice to
the politicians who have been elected or re-elected: embrace NIMBYism at your
own political risk. West Australians have made their voices clear by handing
Labor yet another landslide victory.…But wholesale rejection of
constructing new homes is not a winning strategy …Did
they listen? No, they did not listen. The Leader of the Opposition is a bit of
a NIMBY himself whenhe says that apartments are a risk to schoolchildren.
He has already said that. But what does he do? The Leader of the Opposition has
created a new shadow ministry of deregulation. The definition of that in theCambridge Dictionaryis:the action of removing national
or local government controls or rules from a business or other activity …Who did he give the deregulation
portfolio to? He gave it to the member for Nedlands—the biggest NIMBY
in Western Australia. He said, "We want you to cut red tape. We're going
to give it to you", except that the member for Nedlands has already been
very clear on the public record. He believes in giving back planning powers in
full to local governments—local governments like the City of Nedlands
and his mates who, if they had to decide on that hospice, would have decided against
it. That is his approach. Do members know what? He says that these are the
natural values of the Liberal Party. Who brought in the development assessment panel
system? It was then Minister for Planning John Day. Who backed in the DAP
system? Last year, the then Leader of the Liberal Party in this Parliament
backed it in strongly. Do members know what? I got slipped a little video that the
member did about local decisions belonging in local hands. I got the first
copy. Do members know what he said?Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Minister! Members!Point of orderMr Lachlan Hunter:We have heard from the theatrical minister
for nearly four and a half minutes now, Mr Speaker. Could you call on him to
end the theatre?The Speaker:Members, there is no point of order, but
the minister will be wrapping up his response.Questions without
notice resumedMr John Carey:This part of the video by the member
for Nedlands did not make it, so someone in the Liberal Party must have crossed
it out. He said that ministers and their DAP stooges are making local decisions
on behalf of property owners. I come to this point: it is about a lack of
integrity when members attack the independent decision-makers. I accept it in
politics; attack me. I get that. But do not attack the integrity of individual
non-elected officials and public servants like the former City of Perth
planning director, for whom the Leader of the Opposition had very high regard.
They are not DAP stooges and members should be ashamed of themselves for these
personal attacks on the DAP system, which is the system that their political
party established.VisitorsThe Speaker:Member for Carine, before I give you the
call, I too would like to welcome to the gallery Hon Bob Kucera, former member
for Yokine; Nick Catania, former member for Balcatta; and Ron Edwards, former
member for Stirling. Welcome. It is great to see you all here.
Housing—Supply
questions. As is well known, our state has been leading the nation in terms of
streamlining our approval systems for housing development in Western Australia,
cutting red tape and bringing more consistency across the system.In fact, now other states are
looking to Western Australia and our planning system. I have to say that,
unlike other states, we did not put more power back into the hands of the
planning minister. In fact, for significant projects, we created a new pathway
whereby the decision-maker is the independent WA Planning Commission. I note
that, for the first time, there are three planning directors from local
governments, who are all highly regarded and well respected.Why is this important? It is
because we know that any delay can increase holding costs and make or break a
housing project, particularly a density project. Our reforms are making a
difference and we are seeing extraordinary growth in housing approvals. I would
have hoped that we might see bipartisanship on housing and planning by the
other side, but what we saw during the election campaign was a deliberate
attempt by Liberal candidates across the board to spread fear and anti-density
platforms to try to build distrust and attack the integrity of the planning
system. For example, the Liberal candidate for Jandakot argued for an inquiry
in regard to a rezoning of private property. This is the kind of approach that
they took.I note what the current head of
the WA division of the Property Council of Australia said. She wrote an article
and her message was:I have a free piece of advice to
the politicians who have been elected or re-elected: embrace NIMBYism at your
own political risk. West Australians have made their voices clear by handing
Labor yet another landslide victory.…But wholesale rejection of
constructing new homes is not a winning strategy …Did
they listen? No, they did not listen. The Leader of the Opposition is a bit of
a NIMBY himself whenhe says that apartments are a risk to schoolchildren.
He has already said that. But what does he do? The Leader of the Opposition has
created a new shadow ministry of deregulation. The definition of that in theCambridge Dictionaryis:the action of removing national
or local government controls or rules from a business or other activity …Who did he give the deregulation
portfolio to? He gave it to the member for Nedlands—the biggest NIMBY
in Western Australia. He said, "We want you to cut red tape. We're going
to give it to you", except that the member for Nedlands has already been
very clear on the public record. He believes in giving back planning powers in
full to local governments—local governments like the City of Nedlands
and his mates who, if they had to decide on that hospice, would have decided against
it. That is his approach. Do members know what? He says that these are the
natural values of the Liberal Party. Who brought in the development assessment panel
system? It was then Minister for Planning John Day. Who backed in the DAP
system? Last year, the then Leader of the Liberal Party in this Parliament
backed it in strongly. Do members know what? I got slipped a little video that the
member did about local decisions belonging in local hands. I got the first
copy. Do members know what he said?Several members
interjected.The Speaker:Minister! Members!Point of orderMr Lachlan Hunter:We have heard from the theatrical minister
for nearly four and a half minutes now, Mr Speaker. Could you call on him to
end the theatre?The Speaker:Members, there is no point of order, but
the minister will be wrapping up his response.Questions without
notice resumedMr John Carey:This part of the video by the member
for Nedlands did not make it, so someone in the Liberal Party must have crossed
it out. He said that ministers and their DAP stooges are making local decisions
on behalf of property owners. I come to this point: it is about a lack of
integrity when members attack the independent decision-makers. I accept it in
politics; attack me. I get that. But do not attack the integrity of individual
non-elected officials and public servants like the former City of Perth
planning director, for whom the Leader of the Opposition had very high regard.
They are not DAP stooges and members should be ashamed of themselves for these
personal attacks on the DAP system, which is the system that their political
party established.VisitorsThe Speaker:Member for Carine, before I give you the
call, I too would like to welcome to the gallery Hon Bob Kucera, former member
for Yokine; Nick Catania, former member for Balcatta; and Ron Edwards, former
member for Stirling. Welcome. It is great to see you all here.
Housing—Supply
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