SOCIAL HOUSING — REGIONS — MODULAR
CONSTRUCTION
719. Ms A.E. KENT to the Minister for Housing:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's record $875 million investment in delivering more social
housing.
(1) Can the minister update the house on the delivery
of modular housing as part of this investment and outline how this is
assisting in the accelerated rollout of social housing across Western Australia?
(2) Can the
minister outline to the house how the shift towards more modular housing is
helping create more local manufacturing jobs?
Mr J.N.
CAREY replied:
(1)–(2) I
want to thank the member for her question and I want to thank her for her
advocacy. I was really pleased to see two
modular homes off to Kalgoorlie, which are now in Kalgoorlie. They are the
first for Kalgoorlie. This is all
part of our record investment—an $875 million injection into social
housing, totalling $2.1 billion over the next four years. As the
Minister for Housing, I have been driving a reform program to accelerate the
delivery of social housing in Western Australia. One key way to do that is by
creating the modular building program. We are investing around $100 million for
200 modular homes to be rolled out over the next
two years, and 150 of those are in the regions. We have signed contracts for
the first tranche of 80 homes with three Western Australian companies
that will build those modular homes right here: Quality Builders in Forrestfield, Modular WA and Fleetwood Building
Solutions in High Wycombe.
We know that we cannot simply provide
one or two homes. If we want to grow this sector and provide a pipeline of work, we must provide a clear
outline of a number of homes, and that is 80 homes that will go out. I am pleased to say that of the first
tranche, 15 have already been allocated to regional Western Australia—five modular homes for South Hedland, four modular
homes for Albany, four modular homes for Tom Price and two homes for Laverton.
Now, I want to say this: it is
disappointing to see that the opposition is out there lying to the regions
about the delivery of our program. Hon Steve Martin is the George Costanza of
politics. George Costanza once said, ''It's
not a lie if you believe it.'' Clearly, that is the philosophy of Hon
Steve Martin, because he is out there telling the regions they are not
getting a fair share. He is wrong. In fact, I will quote him. Mr Martin said he
''can guarantee'' the state government would prioritise
metropolitan and coastal areas for the
allocation over inland regional WA. That is false. That is not true. It is
George speaking. George is fibbing to regional Western Australia.
Seventy-five per cent of the modular program is bound for regional Western Australia.
A whopping 45 per cent of all the social housing economic recovery package
funds are destined for regional Western Australia.
I was told by a journalist in an interview last week that he said
Katanning would not get its fair share or any at all. I want to say that
Katanning will also get four new modular homes. It is very clear that we are
accelerating the delivery of social housing. You cannot believe ''George''
Martin—Steve Martin—that we are accelerating the delivery —
Point of Order
Dr D.J.
HONEY: The minister did not refer to the honourable member by his
correct title when he was responding.
The
SPEAKER: Members, all members of the upper house are required to be
referred to by the title ''Hon'' under our standing orders, so I ask
you to do that.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER: Sorry; it is not
something for commenting on. It is a fact, it is in our standing orders and I do
not expect to be interjected on.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr J.N. CAREY: Thank you.
Hon Steve Martin is clearly out in
the regions of Western Australia telling fibs. That is the case. We are
accelerating the delivery of social housing. We are investing in the regions.
There are 150 modular homes going out to provide relief, to provide much-needed
social housing for our most vulnerable in Western Australia.