❓ The Minister for Housing outlines how the $80 million infrastructure development fund is removing barriers to development and boosting housing delivery, criticising the opposition's stance on housing reforms.
AnsweredQoN 390Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HOUSING — AVAILABILITY
390. Mrs J.M.C. STOJKOVSKI to the Minister for Housing:
I refer to the reforms initiated by
this government to encourage urban infill and regional land supply to increase
housing supply. Can the minister outline how the $80 million infrastructure
development fund is removing barriers to development and boosting housing
delivery?
390. Mrs J.M.C. STOJKOVSKI to the Minister for Housing:
I refer to the reforms initiated by
this government to encourage urban infill and regional land supply to increase
housing supply. Can the minister outline how the $80 million infrastructure
development fund is removing barriers to development and boosting housing
delivery?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for her question.
As I have said on the public record many times, COVID has radically reshaped
housing markets across Australia. Part of that reshaping has been significant
impacts on the apartment building sector. Global supply chain issues and
skilled labour and worker shortages have resulted in cost escalations, which
mean that we are seeing barriers to apartments and infills. In fact, advice
from the property sector is that around 60 per cent of approved apartment
dwellings are not proceeding because of cost escalations and barriers.
Contrary to the member for Cottesloe's
claims, our government is driving a reform agenda to encourage density and
infill across Perth and Western Australia. We have introduced a number of
reforms, including critical planning reforms. Again, the opposition is out of
step on this issue. Around the country, there is a national focus and debate on
planning reform. Every state is accelerating planning reform for much-needed
apartment approvals. That is in every state and at a national level; it is in
national cabinet. The opposition is completely out of step with that and
reality. I go through the initiatives. We have a $55 million infill sewerage
fund; we have made changes to Keystart, including an apartment product; we are
streamlining the planning system; and we have lifted the stamp duty concession
on apartments to 100 per cent for $650 000 apartments. Now, we have created an
infrastructure fund for headworks for
sewerage, water and power to remove those barriers so we can get those
developments across the line. There is $40 million for regional workers'
accommodation and $40 million for infill. It was brilliant yesterday to join
the Deputy Premier in announcing the first round of funding, with $6.53 million
for 653 apartments. I will read in the
areas: Burswood, Cannington, Como, Maylands, Mt Pleasant, Nedlands, North
Fremantle, West Leederville , West Perth and Woodlands. We can see that
is a range of areas across Perth. This initiative has been welcomed by the
Urban Development Institute of Australia, the property sector and Shelter WA.
It is again disappointing that the shadow Minister for Housing asked whether it
would make any difference at all to apartment start-ups in Perth. We have all elements of the sector embracing these
reforms. Yet again, the opposition is not supportive. My questions are
simply this: What does the opposition stand for? What are its housing policies?
I cannot tell members at all. I look forward to debating the shadow minister on
multiple times in the lead-up to the next election because the opposition has
no policies, and, worse still, it criticises every reform initiative that we
are delivering and that is endorsed by the wider sector.
As I have said on the public record many times, COVID has radically reshaped
housing markets across Australia. Part of that reshaping has been significant
impacts on the apartment building sector. Global supply chain issues and
skilled labour and worker shortages have resulted in cost escalations, which
mean that we are seeing barriers to apartments and infills. In fact, advice
from the property sector is that around 60 per cent of approved apartment
dwellings are not proceeding because of cost escalations and barriers.
Contrary to the member for Cottesloe's
claims, our government is driving a reform agenda to encourage density and
infill across Perth and Western Australia. We have introduced a number of
reforms, including critical planning reforms. Again, the opposition is out of
step on this issue. Around the country, there is a national focus and debate on
planning reform. Every state is accelerating planning reform for much-needed
apartment approvals. That is in every state and at a national level; it is in
national cabinet. The opposition is completely out of step with that and
reality. I go through the initiatives. We have a $55 million infill sewerage
fund; we have made changes to Keystart, including an apartment product; we are
streamlining the planning system; and we have lifted the stamp duty concession
on apartments to 100 per cent for $650 000 apartments. Now, we have created an
infrastructure fund for headworks for
sewerage, water and power to remove those barriers so we can get those
developments across the line. There is $40 million for regional workers'
accommodation and $40 million for infill. It was brilliant yesterday to join
the Deputy Premier in announcing the first round of funding, with $6.53 million
for 653 apartments. I will read in the
areas: Burswood, Cannington, Como, Maylands, Mt Pleasant, Nedlands, North
Fremantle, West Leederville , West Perth and Woodlands. We can see that
is a range of areas across Perth. This initiative has been welcomed by the
Urban Development Institute of Australia, the property sector and Shelter WA.
It is again disappointing that the shadow Minister for Housing asked whether it
would make any difference at all to apartment start-ups in Perth. We have all elements of the sector embracing these
reforms. Yet again, the opposition is not supportive. My questions are
simply this: What does the opposition stand for? What are its housing policies?
I cannot tell members at all. I look forward to debating the shadow minister on
multiple times in the lead-up to the next election because the opposition has
no policies, and, worse still, it criticises every reform initiative that we
are delivering and that is endorsed by the wider sector.
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