RENTAL ACCOMMODATION — APARTMENTS
404. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Minister for Housing:
I
have a supplementary question. Given the long lead time for new dwellings, can
more be done to bring unoccupied properties to the market?
Mr J.N. CAREY
replied:
I spoke in Parliament last week and
actually outlined reforms that we are undertaking in relation to vacant housing
stock. Despite being previously mocked by
the Leader of the Opposition, who does not think that this is a worthwhile
initiative, I actually came to Parliament and reported on the fact that we were
reviewing Government Regional Officers' Housing that was vacant but
surplus to government needs, and bringing that in to boost social housing stock. We know that any additions are critical to
regional communities. Of course we think about the future; we are bringing in reforms to deliver apartment supply.
We are not resting on our laurels. Yes, we have a booming economy. Yes,
we have a booming construction sector. But we are looking through the housing
diversity pipeline and through our tax reforms. There is a marked difference
between our government and the opposition. The opposition has not offered any policy solutions on boosting housing
supply; it has not. In fact, the opposition actively opposes apartment
living and infill development. We saw at the last election that the opposition
parties proposed policies that would oppose
apartment living. We know this: we need apartments to provide people with
housing choice. This government is
driving reform in social housing, through taxation reform and with the
diversity housing pipeline. We have a critical program that is boosting
housing supply in Western Australia.