PUBLIC HOUSING — INVESTMENT
683. Ms R.S. STEPHENS to the Minister for Housing:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's effort to create jobs and deliver more public housing for Western Australians through its record investment
in social housing across the state. Can the minister update the house on
the work being undertaken with the community housing sector to help fast-track
the delivery of social housing across the state, given the current heated
housing construction market?
Mr J.N.
CAREY replied:
I
want to thank the member for her question. I am deeply proud to be part of a McGowan
government that is making a record investment of $875 million into
social housing, which is the biggest injection of funds in our state's
history. That is $2.1 billion over the next four years, and 3 300 new homes. As
at 30 September, we had 682 social homes under construction. Of course, I am
looking at every opportunity to drive reform to accelerate delivery. In
particular, that is working with the community housing sector. There are 266 community
housing organisations in Western Australia and they cover 22 per cent of the
state's social housing. That is why I am working with the sector; we
have a fantastic positive relationship. In fact, Deb Zanella gave us nine out
of 10 for our budget response to social housing. I am working with the sector
to deliver a reform program.
I recently hosted a formal
roundtable meeting to discuss a range of changes that we can do to leverage
better from this sector. I announced at that
roundtable that we are increasing the loan-to-value cap for providers under
community housing agreements with the
Department of Housing, from 30 to 50 per cent. In short, that means that these
providers can borrow substantially more money to purchase, lease or
build new social housing and affordable housing. We are also looking at lazy
land as an opportunity for the community housing sector to leverage from. But
we also understand this: the community
housing sector faces the same challenge that public housing faces, and that is
ageing stock. So we are also providing direct financial assistance to the
community housing sector. To date, we have announced
44 community housing maintenance grants to help them refurbish and do essential
maintenance. Right now, we also have $93 million as part of the social
housing economic recovery package for the community housing sector to assist it
to deliver new social housing and refurbish the ageing stock. That is $33 million
to build 100 new social houses, $46.5 million for 500 refurbishments and $13.3 million
for remote Aboriginal community maintenance works.
I want to be very clear: we have an
incredibly positive relationship with the community housing sector. As part of
our reform of accelerating delivery, we are looking at the policy mechanisms we
can use to help the sector leverage and grow. We are also providing clear,
direct financial assistance so that they can build new community housing but
also help them meet the challenge that we as a state government face—that
is, to keep housing in the system through maintenance and refurbishment grants.