Western Australia is facing a big housing shortage. There are 10,000 planned apartments waiting to start. The WA Property Council has a bold plan to fix this: a $10,000 cash boost to bring in interstate tradies.
This financial help could solve the construction problem. Western Australia has grown by 86,800 people in the last year. But, only 2,140 out of 13,000 approved apartments have started building. This shows we really need a solution.
Major highlights
- Western Australia proposes a $10,000 cash boost to attract interstate tradies and address the state’s housing crisis.
- The WA Property Council believes this one-off lump payment could be a “game changer” in enticing workers to relocate.
- Perth has a low apartment density, with just 1.1% of homes being apartments, compared to Sydney at 6% and Melbourne at 3.8%.
- Western Australia needs to build 130,000 new homes by mid-2029 to meet the federal government target, translating to 26,000 homes annually.
- The Property Council has proposed various solutions, including addressing construction costs and providing relocation incentives for interstate residential construction workers.
Western Australia’s Housing Crisis and Population Growth Challenge
Western Australia is dealing with a big housing crisis due to fast population growth. The state saw the most people move in of any Australian state, with 86,800 new arrivals between June 2022 and June 2023. But, building homes hasn’t kept up, leading to a big gap between what’s available and what’s needed.
Current Population Growth Statistics
Perth’s homes are mostly single-family houses, unlike Sydney and Melbourne which have more apartments. The state’s population is expected to hit 3.5 million by 2036, sooner than thought. To meet the government’s housing goals, Western Australia must build 130,000 new homes by mid-2029, or 26,000 each year.
The housing shortage is making other problems worse in the state. Western Australia had the most people sleeping rough in 2021. Now, waiting for social housing takes 150 weeks, up from 136 weeks last year. The government has spent $3.2 billion on housing and homelessness, but it’s not enough.
“The lack of housing was highlighted as a significant obstacle for business operator Steve Bolesta, impacting recruitment efforts for his company Backyard Creations.”
Even with government efforts, like the $80 million Infrastructure Development Fund, the housing crisis in Western Australia is tough to solve. To tackle the state’s population growth and housing shortage, big solutions and teamwork between governments are needed. This will help build new homes and provide monetary aid for instant cash flow and income support.
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$10,000 Cash Boost Initiative for Interstate Tradies
The Western Australian government has launched a bold plan to tackle the housing crisis. They’re giving a $10,000 cash boost to skilled tradies from all over Australia. This move could be a game changer in speeding up home building.
The “Build a Life in WA” program aims to grow the construction workforce. The government has put $21.6 million into the Group Training Organisation (GTO) Wage Subsidy Program. This will create 175 new places for apprentices and trainees in building and construction.
This investment makes the total in the GTO Wage Subsidy Program $109.4 million. It will support 775 subsidized positions for local construction workers.
The state government is also giving a $10,000 incentive to workers from other states. Premier Roger Cook says this is key to solving the housing crisis. He wants to boost the construction workforce to drive home development.
A new online WA Jobs and Workforce Hub has been launched. It’s a one-stop-shop for jobs in the building and construction industry. Details on the “Build a Life in WA” payments will be online soon.
Treasurer Rita Saffioti and Training and Workforce Development Minister Simone McGurk see these incentives as vital. They believe they will attract more workers to Western Australia. This is a big step towards solving the housing crisis.
“This $10,000 cash boost is a game-changer in our efforts to attract skilled tradies to Western Australia and fast-track the construction of much-needed homes. By investing in our workforce and incentivizing relocation, we’re taking decisive action to tackle the housing crisis head-on.”
– Premier Roger Cook
Construction Barriers and Development Challenges in Perth
Perth is facing big problems in building apartments. There are 10,000 apartments approved but not built yet. High costs and government taxes are big hurdles.
Building affordable apartments is hard because of money issues. This makes it tough to start new projects.
Construction delays are hurting tradies in Western Australia. Subcontractors are working harder than ever. This has made builders less confident in big projects.
The Property Council says we need to lower the cost of building apartments. This could help solve Western Australia’s housing crisis.
Financial help and government support could be a big help. It could make building apartments cheaper. This would help the community and solve the housing crisis.
