HOUSING — HOME
OWNERSHIP
1175. Hon CHARLES SMITH to the minister representing the
Minister for Housing:
I refer to the recent article in The
West Australian in which John Carey, MLA, Perth, states that now is a good
time to buy property. With escalating concerns over apartment quality,
alongside developer bankruptcies, household income stagnating, unemployment set
to rise and households already carrying huge debt, can the minister explain why
now is a good time to buy property?
Hon STEPHEN DAWSON
replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
Home ownership is an investment for
the long term. It is an investment in a family's future to provide
long-term housing stability and to create wealth. Such long-term investment
decisions recognise the fact that there will be short and medium-term cycles in
economic and market activity. Given that interest rates are low and property prices
are relatively more affordable than they have been for a long time, it is clear
that now is very good time to consider entering the property market,
particularly for first home buyers and others who are not selling as well as
buying. The McGowan government is growing the economy, delivering the state's
first surplus in five years and has already created 56 000 new jobs since
coming to office. Combined with initiatives such as cutting TAFE fees by 50 per
cent, keeping cost-of-living increases to their lowest level for 13 years —
Several members interjected.
The PRESIDENT: Order! I actually
would like to hear the answer, but it is really hard to hear the minister with
everyone making noise.
Hon STEPHEN DAWSON: Thank
you, Madam President.
Combined
with initiatives such as cutting TAFE fees by 50 per cent, keeping
cost-of-living increases to their lowest level for 13 years and
providing increased finance options through Keystart, the government is
providing the stability and confidence that is likely to encourage people to
consider moving from renting into home ownership. The McGowan government's
record compares favourably with the record of the previous Liberal–National
government, which delivered record debt and deficits, an economic recession,
three land tax increases, and no new jobs between 2013 and 2017, and it
increased TAFE fees by 510 per cent. The McGowan government's
investment in Metronet will improve access to services and amenity for our
community. Through the Department of Communities, the government is providing
new affordable home ownership opportunities to help individuals and families
realise the many benefits that this new infrastructure will provide.