- Cook Government and HIA WA hold roundtable to further efforts to boost housing supply
- Strong engagement between State Government and industry continues following COVID-19 pandemic
The Cook Government and peak body Housing Industry Association (HIA) WA yesterday hosted a roundtable with representatives from Government and the housing and construction industry to further efforts to boost housing supply and affordability in Western Australia.
Premier Roger Cook, Deputy Premier and Treasurer Rita Saffioti, Commerce and Finance Minister Sue Ellery, Planning, Lands and Housing Minister John Carey, and Training Minister Simone McGurk joined key housing and construction stakeholders from across the State at the roundtable at Dumas House.
There has been ongoing and continued consultation between the State Government and key industry bodies, since the COVID-19 pandemic, with a number of new policy levers being enacted to accelerate the delivery of housing across the State.
Boosting housing supply and affordability of housing remains one of the key priorities of the Cook Labor Government.
The roundtable provided the opportunity for open dialogue between the Cook Government and industry representatives. The Premier and Government Ministers outlined the State Government's policy measures to accelerate housing delivery, while sector representatives discussed future policy considerations, their current needs and current constraints in the housing and construction market.
As a result of the roundtable, the Cook Government, in partnership with the HIA WA, will reconvene the roundtable in 2024 to continue to work together to boost housing supply and affordability in WA.
As stated by Housing Minister John Carey:
"Our Government is deeply cognisant of the current housing market and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have radically reshaped housing markets across Australia.
"The Cook Government and the HIA WA and other key industry bodies, are continuing to work together to boost housing supply and affordability in WA, recognising the complexities we currently face. "We're using every lever we can to bolster the long-term supply of housing throughout Western Australia. We're always listening to and working with industry to boost housing supply, and our Government is investing in a range of reforms to stimulate and support the housing sector.
"We've enacted a range of reforms to boost housing supply and choice, including through reforms that support more infill and density, our significant planning reforms, 100 per cent stamp duty concession and funding an $80 million Infrastructure Development Fund to support upfront costs of headworks.
"We continue to deliver significant investments in housing and associated support, particularly for those who are most vulnerable, with a record $2.6 billion in State Government funding committed to housing and homelessness measures."
As stated by Housing Industry Association WA executive director Michael McGowan:
"While there is no debate that WA has a significant housing challenge ahead of itself over the next five years, there is also real reason for optimism.
"The current economic outlook suggests that WA has the potential for a steady and sustained recovery with a strong pipeline of projects across a broad portfolio of industries that will help diversify our economy.
"HIA acknowledges that the State Government has worked collaboratively with all stakeholders over the past two yearsin an attempt topull all levers possible to deliver housing supply for the short, medium and long term.
"It's important for all parts of the housing and construction sector to continue working with the State and Federal Governments to deliver more housing across the State and today's roundtable was another key step towards driving policy change for the WA community."
