Housing—Planning reform
361. Dr Jags Krishnanto theMinister for Planning and Lands:
I refer to the recently announced review of planning instruments and the Cook Labor government's commitment to cutting red tape.
(1) Can the minister inform the house how these reforms are accelerating economic development and delivering more homes for Western Australians?
(2) Is the minister aware of anyone who does not support these reforms?
Mr John Carey replied:
(1)–(2) I thank the member for his question. As members know, our state government has been leading the nation in terms of driving planning reform and cutting red tape. It is as relevant as ever, particularly given the productivity roundtable discussion that is happening in Canberra this week, where housing supply continues to be a critical focus and builds on the work of the National Cabinet's commitment to driving planning reforms. I note the Business Council of Australia only on the weekend in the lead-up to the round table said it was critical to continue to cut red tape to speed up the delivery of housing. As a government, that is what we have been doing through extraordinary planning reform to streamline housing approvals from single homes to critical medium to high-density projects.
Right now, we have put out another set of regulations for consultation to provide greater consistency and standardisation when it comes to local planning policies, which are instruments used by local governments to help set and guide residential development. We are not stopping here. We are pursuing and driving reform because, ultimately, we understand that there is not a moment in time that we say, "We're done". We understand that we need to accelerate housing supply and we must persist with reform.
Across the country, Liberal and Labor—both sides of politics—are embracing a reform agenda. Look to the Northern Territory, look to Tasmania, look to Queensland. They have Liberal governments, except we have one Liberal Party in one state that is not embracing the reform agenda. We have heard a lot. Never have I seen the Liberal Party or its politicians embrace policy positions that say, "I support the status quo". I mean, it is a little bit bizarre when you think about it. The member for Cottesloe's comment was, "I support Basil's view that we accept the status quo". What an incredible policy position to take. I think we should do that all the time. We know that they do not support the status quo when it comes to planning. In fact, they want to add red tape and make it harder. Of course, before the election they said different things, like the member for Carine who loves doing his TikToks that say, "We will cut red tape so housing is more affordable". But they are not, and let us go through it.
We have, in fact, the member for Kalamunda saying we should do third-party appeals, which would create blocks in the system. We have the member for Carine who campaigns, or is in shock-horror, about R60 in his community, which would enable medium-density development, not even high-density development. We have the leader of the Liberals, who goes to a Western Australian Planning Commission meeting and accuses and attacks the WAPC regarding its decision-making and integrity. We have Hon Neil Thomson, who is now actively suggesting to change the make-up of development assessment panels so that they are three–three, which will mean so many more decisions will be knocked back, will be dead or will be perhaps referred off to the State Administrative Tribunal.
This is the reality of the WA Liberals. Every state, regardless of its political persuasion, understands the need to drive reform, yet we have one political party, the WA Liberals, that is set on the past and wants to make it harder for small builders and family businesses to build and create housing. There is a clear divide. That side does not even talk about housing anymore. It is a vacuum. There is no policy. On this side, we see constant reform to drive and accelerate the delivery of housing in Western Australia.
