Housing—Planning reform
220. Mrs Lisa Mundayto theMinister for Planning and Lands:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's agenda to streamline and simplify planning rules to enable more housing.
(1) Can the minister please outline to the house how this government's review of residential design codes is supporting these efforts?
(2) Can the minister also please advise the house whether he is aware of any alternative views or other agendas from those opposite?
Mr John Carey replied:
(1)–(2) I thank the member for her question. As we know, the state government is leading the nation in terms of planning reform, and we have demonstrated our ability to cut red tape for housing. Our planning reforms, in terms of both the significant development pathway and reforms to development assessment panels, are looked upon by other states as creating greater clarity and certainty. It is for that reason, building on those reforms, that we have today announced a review of the residential codes. The R-codes are the basic planning tools that guide residential development in Western Australia. It is clear that we can do more. There is not a moment in time when we draw a line in the sand and say that that is enough when it comes to looking at our rules in relation to housing development.
The review by the WA Planning Commission will look at three key aspects: greater simplicity; greater clarity and greater organisation, particularly with the advance of AI; and enabling density and infill, particularly medium density and higher density. We will have a range of consultations. I will not come in with set views. We believe that there can be some consensus for quick wins and then stronger reform for the long term. That is our reform program.
What is the view of the opposite side? We know that members opposite talk the big game on cutting red tape but do the opposite. The Nationals WA went to the last election to make the DAP system harder. They would have had a system by which it would have been split three–three between experts and members, which would have resulted in so many more regional projects. The Liberal Party is all over the place. Of course, we know that the member for Nedlands, who has attacked DAPs—he called them DAP stooges—wants to return the powers from the WAPC. I can make it clear what that would have meant for the Nedlands hospice. Under the aspirations of the member for Nedlands, the hospice would not have been considered at a state level; it would have been determined by the local government, which said that that project was at risk because of bombers—his mates on council! He wants to give the power back to them. They would have stopped the hospice—his best mates.
What are the other agendas? Let us look at the upper house. "The Clan" has taken over. I am holding a rainbow, and I do not want members to panic.
Mr Jonathan Huston: Your rainbow.
Mr John Carey: My rainbow—interesting; very interesting. My rainbow. It is a rainbow cushion from Big W that is found in homes across Western Australia. According to Hon Phil Twiss, it is part of a nasty and evil agenda. You can see it now: imagine the shark music; the rainbow is coming for you! This is what Hon Phil Twiss said, according the member for Nedlands, about my rainbow. He said we:
… need to claim back the symbol of the rainbow to what God made it to be …"That the homosexual lobby—
Several members interjected.
Point of order
Mr Liam Staltari: I have a point of order. I refer to standing order 78 about relevance. I really question how this is relevant to R-code reform.
Several members interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr Terry Healy interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Southern River, that is enough, thanks. Member for Carine, I will not uphold that point of order. You cannot see it, but the question that was asked refers to whether the minister is aware of any alternative views or other agendas from those opposite. Carry on, minister.
Questions without notice resumed
Mr John Carey: Can I say, we are not surprised that the member for Carine would interject. He was named in the texts as part of the misogynist "Clan", so no surprises, mate, where you stand on ideological viewpoints. Hon Phil Twiss said:
That the homosexual lobby has usurped a biblical symbol of God's mercy (but also a reminder of his judgment) is insulting at least but utterly blasphemous
This is the kind of Liberal that that party has endorsed and that the Leader of the Liberal Party says is the kind of people they want in the upper house. As the member for Nedlands says, it is your rainbow. Well, can I say this: there is only one side of this house that is focused on the things that matter: the cost of living, health, housing—the things that matter. The other side is now dominated by ideological extremists who want to dictate to people about their personal lives and who are worried about a rainbow. That is their focus; our focus is on the things that matter for Western Australians.
Several members interjected.
The Speaker: Member for Bassendean! Members!
