❓ Minister Carey responds to a question about the Cook Labor government's investment in social and affordable housing, highlighting achievements and criticising the opposition's lack of policy and perceived obstruction.
AnsweredQoN 299Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Housing—Investment299.Mr Stephen Prattto
theMinister for Housing and Works:I refer to the Cook
Labor government's record $5.8 billion investment in housing and homelessness
measures since 2021.(1) Can the minister update the house on the Cook
Labor government's commitment to deliver record levels of social and affordable
housing?(2) Is the minister aware of any credible
alternative plans?
theMinister for Housing and Works:I refer to the Cook
Labor government's record $5.8 billion investment in housing and homelessness
measures since 2021.(1) Can the minister update the house on the Cook
Labor government's commitment to deliver record levels of social and affordable
housing?(2) Is the minister aware of any credible
alternative plans?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
12 August 2025
Response time
0 days
Mr John Carey replied:(1)–(2) I thank the member for his
question. As he mentioned, we have a record social and affordable housing
investment program—since 2021, $15.8 billion. We set a clear target by
30 June this year of 3,300, and we delivered on that promise and that
commitment. As I have said, we are doing everything we can to bolster housing, both
social and affordable, in the general wider market. That is why we have been
prepared to think outside the box. It was great to join the Deputy Premier to
announce the single largestinvestment in a
purchase for social and affordable housing in the state's history of $105
million to buy theFraser Suites. What was great about that was that given
the constraints in the construction market, it was smart because we are
converting short-stay apartments with one and two bedrooms and studio
apartments into affordable rentals. It represents extraordinary value for
taxpayers' money. It delivers apartments faster than a construction approach.
We are repurposing this property and work is beginning. It will be 70%
affordable rentals and 30% social housing managed by a community housing
provider.I note that the response across
the board was positive. The Property Council of WA recognised the importance of
this project and strongly supports it. Shelter WA called it a game-changing
purchase that demonstrates the government's ambition and dedication. Anglicare,
which has an office just across the road, welcomed this bold move. So there has
been wide acceptance across the board. Except, we did get one person who
floundered, which is not surprising when you are a commentator, and that was
the Leader of the Liberal Party. First of all, he said he did support it. Then
he attacked it, then he supported it and then he attacked it, like the
commentator he is. I mean, seriously, he changes his position so quickly. CEO
marriages at a Coldplay concert take longer to dissolve than the Leader of the
Liberals, who flips and changes at every possibility. Why should we be
surprised? Why would the Leader of the Opposition oppose this incredible
purchase? He opposes it because he has a record of it. He is the guy who shut
down a women's shelter. He is the guy who said we should drive homelessness
services out of the city. He is the guy who said on the record that homeless
people are a blight on our city and, do you know what, we should forcibly
remove them.It is no surprise that that side
has given up on housing and homelessness. It has no policies. What was its policy
at the last election? It was: "We're doing what you're doing." That
was the opposition's commitment—it was ditto. It was likeWhen Harry Met Sallyand the opposition is the
woman going, "I'll have what she is having." I mean, the opposition
has no policy on social and affordable housing—zero; nothing. On top of
that, the opposition will make it harder to get housing delivered because, as
we have heard from the Deputy Premier, Hon Neil Thomson is now running around
and saying the opposition will pull back and add more red tape to the planning
system to make it harder to get housing approved. We have the deregulation
portfolio—we have all these portfolios—but, in fact, what the
opposition is suggesting is to impose more red tape. So that side has given up—zero
policies. It is only this side of politics that has demonstrated a clear reform
program and ability to deliver significant supply through innovative measures
like Fraser Suites.The Speaker:The Leader of the Nationals WA with the
last question.
Housing—Investment
question. As he mentioned, we have a record social and affordable housing
investment program—since 2021, $15.8 billion. We set a clear target by
30 June this year of 3,300, and we delivered on that promise and that
commitment. As I have said, we are doing everything we can to bolster housing, both
social and affordable, in the general wider market. That is why we have been
prepared to think outside the box. It was great to join the Deputy Premier to
announce the single largestinvestment in a
purchase for social and affordable housing in the state's history of $105
million to buy theFraser Suites. What was great about that was that given
the constraints in the construction market, it was smart because we are
converting short-stay apartments with one and two bedrooms and studio
apartments into affordable rentals. It represents extraordinary value for
taxpayers' money. It delivers apartments faster than a construction approach.
We are repurposing this property and work is beginning. It will be 70%
affordable rentals and 30% social housing managed by a community housing
provider.I note that the response across
the board was positive. The Property Council of WA recognised the importance of
this project and strongly supports it. Shelter WA called it a game-changing
purchase that demonstrates the government's ambition and dedication. Anglicare,
which has an office just across the road, welcomed this bold move. So there has
been wide acceptance across the board. Except, we did get one person who
floundered, which is not surprising when you are a commentator, and that was
the Leader of the Liberal Party. First of all, he said he did support it. Then
he attacked it, then he supported it and then he attacked it, like the
commentator he is. I mean, seriously, he changes his position so quickly. CEO
marriages at a Coldplay concert take longer to dissolve than the Leader of the
Liberals, who flips and changes at every possibility. Why should we be
surprised? Why would the Leader of the Opposition oppose this incredible
purchase? He opposes it because he has a record of it. He is the guy who shut
down a women's shelter. He is the guy who said we should drive homelessness
services out of the city. He is the guy who said on the record that homeless
people are a blight on our city and, do you know what, we should forcibly
remove them.It is no surprise that that side
has given up on housing and homelessness. It has no policies. What was its policy
at the last election? It was: "We're doing what you're doing." That
was the opposition's commitment—it was ditto. It was likeWhen Harry Met Sallyand the opposition is the
woman going, "I'll have what she is having." I mean, the opposition
has no policy on social and affordable housing—zero; nothing. On top of
that, the opposition will make it harder to get housing delivered because, as
we have heard from the Deputy Premier, Hon Neil Thomson is now running around
and saying the opposition will pull back and add more red tape to the planning
system to make it harder to get housing approved. We have the deregulation
portfolio—we have all these portfolios—but, in fact, what the
opposition is suggesting is to impose more red tape. So that side has given up—zero
policies. It is only this side of politics that has demonstrated a clear reform
program and ability to deliver significant supply through innovative measures
like Fraser Suites.The Speaker:The Leader of the Nationals WA with the
last question.
Housing—Investment
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