❓ Ms. Brewer questions the Minister about housing supply, citing Anglicare WA's concerns. The Minister responds with data on housing approvals and construction, defends the government's record, and criticises the opposition's stance on social housing.
AnsweredQoN 225Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Housing—Supply
225. Ms Sandra Brewer to
the Minister for Housing and Works:
I refer to the CEO
of Anglicare WA Mark Glasson's comments last week that this government has
"lost control" of the housing system, and that Western Australia may
actually be going backwards in terms of supply.
(1) Can
the minister confirm that home completion rates actually dropped for four
consecutive quarters last year?
(2) Does
the government agree with Mr Glasson's comments?
225. Ms Sandra Brewer to
the Minister for Housing and Works:
I refer to the CEO
of Anglicare WA Mark Glasson's comments last week that this government has
"lost control" of the housing system, and that Western Australia may
actually be going backwards in terms of supply.
(1) Can
the minister confirm that home completion rates actually dropped for four
consecutive quarters last year?
(2) Does
the government agree with Mr Glasson's comments?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
thank the member for her question. Today, data came out that showed that, in
annual average terms, total approvals in WA grew by 12.7% to 25,361 in March.
Ms Sandra Brewer interjected.
The Speaker: Member!
Mr John Carey: That is the highest 12-month total
since December 2021. I also note that currently there are 25,000 homes under
construction in the market. That is why the Housing Industry Association recognised
that Western Australia was the top state for housing delivery by far. It
actually said that Western Australia has gone well beyond other states. That is
not me; that is an independent and highly respected body.
Can I say this about
Mark Glasson: we have a very good working relationship. He stood next to us on
rental reform. I would say this: he does not share the member's view about
opposing social and affordable housing. He has long been on the record on this,
and if members look at what he has said, he does not say it is a decade; he
says it is 20 years in the making.
Ms Sandra Brewer interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Cottesloe, you have asked the
question. Listen to the response, please.
Mr John Carey: He said it is 20 years in the making—20
years. But what I find fascinating is that the member for Cottesloe has the
audacity to talk about that when her party refused to set a social housing
target.
Ms Sandra Brewer interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Cottesloe, I am calling you
for the first time. Please stop interjecting.
Mr John Carey: The last election was a chance, after
eight years, for that side to show policy. Members of the opposition got to the
end of that eight years and realised that their number one social housing policy
was to evict more people into homelessness. That was their first policy.
Secondly, in a debate with myself, the Leader of the Liberal Party could not
stipulate or give a reason that they refused a social housing target. It was
the most embarrassing lack of any coherent position. He stumbled and flapped
around.
Several members
interjected.
Mr John Carey: He flapped around like one of those
things outside a car yard. I mean, he could not even explain why they would not
set a social housing target.
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt!
Mr John Carey: Currently, right now, at this date and
time, we have this. This is pretty unprecedented. Hon Steve Martin, who I
have deep respect for and a very good working relationship with, used to not
bring every issue to the media, but would say, "I've got an issue; can you
help this constituent." What we have from this Liberal spokesperson is
unprecedented. Whether she likes it or not, as a shadow spokesperson, she is
responsible for that side's policy on social housing. Members might think that rather
than actively opposing social housing and affordable housing projects, which
Mark Glasson absolutely endorsed, or when she attacks —
Ms Sandra Brewer interjected.
The Speaker: Member
for Cottesloe!
Mr John Carey: When she attacks Fraser Suites—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr John Carey: When she attacks Fraser Suites, which
was endorsed by Anglicare and by Shelter WA, we are in this extraordinary
situation where we have a Liberal spokesperson who has a disdain for social
housing, opposes social housing, and is in fact focused on stopping social
housing.
thank the member for her question. Today, data came out that showed that, in
annual average terms, total approvals in WA grew by 12.7% to 25,361 in March.
Ms Sandra Brewer interjected.
The Speaker: Member!
Mr John Carey: That is the highest 12-month total
since December 2021. I also note that currently there are 25,000 homes under
construction in the market. That is why the Housing Industry Association recognised
that Western Australia was the top state for housing delivery by far. It
actually said that Western Australia has gone well beyond other states. That is
not me; that is an independent and highly respected body.
Can I say this about
Mark Glasson: we have a very good working relationship. He stood next to us on
rental reform. I would say this: he does not share the member's view about
opposing social and affordable housing. He has long been on the record on this,
and if members look at what he has said, he does not say it is a decade; he
says it is 20 years in the making.
Ms Sandra Brewer interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Cottesloe, you have asked the
question. Listen to the response, please.
Mr John Carey: He said it is 20 years in the making—20
years. But what I find fascinating is that the member for Cottesloe has the
audacity to talk about that when her party refused to set a social housing
target.
Ms Sandra Brewer interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Cottesloe, I am calling you
for the first time. Please stop interjecting.
Mr John Carey: The last election was a chance, after
eight years, for that side to show policy. Members of the opposition got to the
end of that eight years and realised that their number one social housing policy
was to evict more people into homelessness. That was their first policy.
Secondly, in a debate with myself, the Leader of the Liberal Party could not
stipulate or give a reason that they refused a social housing target. It was
the most embarrassing lack of any coherent position. He stumbled and flapped
around.
Several members
interjected.
Mr John Carey: He flapped around like one of those
things outside a car yard. I mean, he could not even explain why they would not
set a social housing target.
Mr Lachlan Hunter interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Central Wheatbelt!
Mr John Carey: Currently, right now, at this date and
time, we have this. This is pretty unprecedented. Hon Steve Martin, who I
have deep respect for and a very good working relationship with, used to not
bring every issue to the media, but would say, "I've got an issue; can you
help this constituent." What we have from this Liberal spokesperson is
unprecedented. Whether she likes it or not, as a shadow spokesperson, she is
responsible for that side's policy on social housing. Members might think that rather
than actively opposing social housing and affordable housing projects, which
Mark Glasson absolutely endorsed, or when she attacks —
Ms Sandra Brewer interjected.
The Speaker: Member
for Cottesloe!
Mr John Carey: When she attacks Fraser Suites—
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr John Carey: When she attacks Fraser Suites, which
was endorsed by Anglicare and by Shelter WA, we are in this extraordinary
situation where we have a Liberal spokesperson who has a disdain for social
housing, opposes social housing, and is in fact focused on stopping social
housing.
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