Western Australian cabinet reshuffle: Property industry responds

• John Carey to gain Planning and keep Housing; Lands; Homelessness
• David Michael to gain Local Government
• Industry broadly welcomes the appointments

Last week, Mark McGowan stepped down as Premier of Western Australia and Member for Rockingham.

His replacement, Roger Cook, has today announced the new cabinet, which sees the Planning portfolio go from Rita Saffioti to John Carey, and Carey’s Local Government portfolio go to cabinet newcomer David Michael.

Saffioti will become Deputy Premier, and also picked up Treasurer and Tourism, with Ports to go to Michael.

UDIA welcomes Carey’s Planning appointment

The Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA WA) said it is looking forward to continue its positive working relationship with Minister Carey as he takes on new responsibilities under the Planning portfolio, said UDIA WA CEO Tanya Steinbeck.

“The Planning portfolio is a natural fit with his existing areas of responsibility including housing, lands and homelessness,” Steinbeck said.

“We have built a sound working relationship with Minister Carey during his time in the housing and local government portfolios and we will continue to work with the Minister’s office in relation to the ongoing planning reform agenda.

“While Minister Carey has had a strong focus on social housing under the Housing portfolio, we hope that expanding his remit to planning will ensure a strong focus from State Government across the housing continuum from crisis accommodation right through to affordable home ownership.

“There is a lot of work to do to ensure that Western Australia’s housing supply pipeline is sustainable in the long term and that we can adequately deliver the land and housing that our growing population desperately needs.”

UDIA WA has also congratulated outgoing Planning Minister and new Deputy Premier and Treasurer Rita Saffioti.

“Minister Saffioti has demonstrated exceptional leadership in the planning reform space and in the roll out of METRONET in order to deliver on Perth’s vision as a more connected and compact City,” Steinbeck said.

“It is great to see Minister Saffioti has retained the Transport portfolio in order to continue her work on the METRONET vision.

“Minister Saffioti and the McGowan Government more broadly were willing to listen to industry and act to address the significant challenges our industry has faced over the last several years.”

Saffioti praised for positive change in Planning

The Property Council WA Executive Director, Sandra Brewer, said that the change of Planning Ministers was anticipated by industry, as the dire lack of housing supply necessitates action across the portfolios of Housing, Lands, Homelessness and Planning.

“Planning Minster, Rita Saffioti made significant and positive changes to the planning system to depoliticise and streamline assessments.”

Sandra Brewer, PCA WA Executive Director

“With Minister John Carey’s prior experience in local government, he knows better than many the challenges in planning for changes in existing suburbs and we know he will bring enormous energy to the challenge of providing housing for all West Australians,” said Brewer.

Sue Ellery’s retention of the Commerce portfolio was noted as important, said Brewer, “as at this time major reforms to the Retirement Villages Act are in progress by DMIRS.”

“Industry relies on her good judgement to minimize any economic harm to not-for-profit operators in the senior’s housing sector, right at the time we desperately need more housing supply in this State.”

The new cabinet

Cabinet

 Parliamentary secretaries