❓ Mr. Love questions the Premier on the delay in addressing the regional housing crisis. The Premier defends the government's housing investments and accuses the opposition of mismanagement and inconsistent policy positions.
AnsweredQoN 215Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Government Regional Officers' Housing
215. Mr Shane Love to
the Premier:
Premier, I refer to
the government's belated announcement of investments in GROH housing across
some select regional centres. Why has it taken nearly a decade for the
government to respond to a regional housing crisis that has been unfolding for
the entire term of the Premier's government?
215. Mr Shane Love to
the Premier:
Premier, I refer to
the government's belated announcement of investments in GROH housing across
some select regional centres. Why has it taken nearly a decade for the
government to respond to a regional housing crisis that has been unfolding for
the entire term of the Premier's government?
AnswerView source ↗
The member is, of
course, wrong. We have already made a significant investment in housing right
across the state, a $6.3 billion investment in housing and homelessness
measures since 2021. That includes 3,900 social affordable homes and we have a
further 1,500 under contract or construction. A significant number of those are
in regional Western Australia. GROH housing continues to be an important part
of ensuring that we have the housing that we need, and that includes
opportunities for people living in regional Western Australia to have a home to
live in. When those opposite were in government, they sold 600 GROH homes
across Western Australia.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Member for Central Wheatbelt and
Minister for Housing and Works, please do not engage in a yelling match across
the chamber.
Mr Roger Cook: When
it comes to housing, the WA Labor government has done more for regional Western
Australians than any government before it.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Roger Cook: There were 600 homes ripped out of the
system to cover a $180 million debt, which those opposite caused through
their mismanagement of the portfolio.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Roger Cook: Mr Speaker—I forgot the question! The
announcements we have made about GROH housing are about continuing to invest in
regional Western Australia. We know that our Seven Cities program is about
boosting the opportunities for regional Western Australians to live, work and—
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt!
Mr Roger Cook: —play in Western Australia. It is an
economic policy. It is about ensuring that we seize the opportunities that are
before Western Australians, and we will manage this properly. This is a
commitment to over 500 new GROH homes in regional WA.
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt, please stop
interjecting. I am giving you a warning. Do not carry on.
Mr Roger Cook: As the member for Central Wheatbelt
observes, the mining companies are paying for it because they know that when
they work with the WA Labor government, they can get results.
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt, I am
calling you for the first time. Please stop interjecting. My patience is
running out.
Mr Roger Cook: Mr Speaker, I can assure you that the
mining companies are very happy with us.
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt, I am
calling you for the second time. There is no need for your constant
interjections.
Mr Roger Cook: They are working closely with my
government. They are pleased with the work that we are doing to boost the
regional workforces of Western Australia to ensure that we continue to create
the investments that we need. Those opposite are hapless when it comes to any
policy response for the people of Western Australia. They have got no idea, no
clue, and that is why we see them one day wanting us to spend more, the next
day wanting us to spend less. One day they want to speed-up things, the next
day they want them to slow down. One day they are for housing, the next day
they are not for housing. One day they want us to work with the mining
companies, the next day they say we should not work with the mining companies.
We do not know what
they stand for. What they do stand for is shouty-shout-shout in the Parliament.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Roger Cook: They do not have a single policy
amongst them, and that is why the Western Australian community is turning its
back on them.
The Speaker: Supplementary question, member for Roe.
Mr Shane Love: Member for Mid-West, I think!
The Speaker: Member for Mid-West—sorry.
Mr Shane Love: The member for Roe is much
better looking!
course, wrong. We have already made a significant investment in housing right
across the state, a $6.3 billion investment in housing and homelessness
measures since 2021. That includes 3,900 social affordable homes and we have a
further 1,500 under contract or construction. A significant number of those are
in regional Western Australia. GROH housing continues to be an important part
of ensuring that we have the housing that we need, and that includes
opportunities for people living in regional Western Australia to have a home to
live in. When those opposite were in government, they sold 600 GROH homes
across Western Australia.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Member for Central Wheatbelt and
Minister for Housing and Works, please do not engage in a yelling match across
the chamber.
Mr Roger Cook: When
it comes to housing, the WA Labor government has done more for regional Western
Australians than any government before it.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Roger Cook: There were 600 homes ripped out of the
system to cover a $180 million debt, which those opposite caused through
their mismanagement of the portfolio.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Roger Cook: Mr Speaker—I forgot the question! The
announcements we have made about GROH housing are about continuing to invest in
regional Western Australia. We know that our Seven Cities program is about
boosting the opportunities for regional Western Australians to live, work and—
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt!
Mr Roger Cook: —play in Western Australia. It is an
economic policy. It is about ensuring that we seize the opportunities that are
before Western Australians, and we will manage this properly. This is a
commitment to over 500 new GROH homes in regional WA.
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt, please stop
interjecting. I am giving you a warning. Do not carry on.
Mr Roger Cook: As the member for Central Wheatbelt
observes, the mining companies are paying for it because they know that when
they work with the WA Labor government, they can get results.
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt, I am
calling you for the first time. Please stop interjecting. My patience is
running out.
Mr Roger Cook: Mr Speaker, I can assure you that the
mining companies are very happy with us.
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt, I am
calling you for the second time. There is no need for your constant
interjections.
Mr Roger Cook: They are working closely with my
government. They are pleased with the work that we are doing to boost the
regional workforces of Western Australia to ensure that we continue to create
the investments that we need. Those opposite are hapless when it comes to any
policy response for the people of Western Australia. They have got no idea, no
clue, and that is why we see them one day wanting us to spend more, the next
day wanting us to spend less. One day they want to speed-up things, the next
day they want them to slow down. One day they are for housing, the next day
they are not for housing. One day they want us to work with the mining
companies, the next day they say we should not work with the mining companies.
We do not know what
they stand for. What they do stand for is shouty-shout-shout in the Parliament.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Roger Cook: They do not have a single policy
amongst them, and that is why the Western Australian community is turning its
back on them.
The Speaker: Supplementary question, member for Roe.
Mr Shane Love: Member for Mid-West, I think!
The Speaker: Member for Mid-West—sorry.
Mr Shane Love: The member for Roe is much
better looking!
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