The Nationals WA have pledged $1 billion to regional housing over the decade ahead, if voted into government on March 8.
The Nationals WA have pledged $1 billion to regional housing over the decade ahead, if voted into government on March 8.
The state’s official opposition unveiled its plan for housing in regional and remote areas, lifting the curtain on a huge $1 billion spend to be put towards 1,5000 homes in the years ahead.
The plan would lead to the construction of 1,000 government regional officer housing (GROH) projects, and 500 social housing properties by 2035.
Opposition leader Shane Love said housing was the biggest issue facing the state, and that a government he led would put $100 million towards it every year for a decade.
“This is a long-term plan to deliver a long-overdue expansion of GROH housing, providing high-quality, affordable accommodation for key workers like teachers, police and healthcare professionals which are desperately needed in our regions,” he said.
“And we’re supporting our most vulnerable regional residents by transitioning hundreds of properties to social housing.”
Mr Love said for every two homes built under the GROH banner, the party would transition a home currently within the program to social housing for 15 years.
The homes would then be sold into the private market, with revenue tipped back into the program.
“This will deliver a net increase to GROH and social housing year-on-year, provide certainty for the construction sector in regional and remote areas, and support long-term procurement and planning, ensuring WA taxpayers get the best value for their money,” Mr Love said.
“And in time, this program will help create a steady stream of affordable housing for first home buyers as this housing enters the private market.”
The initiative will focus on regional areas like the Pilbara, West Kimberley and Goldfields where high need has been identified.
Mr Love said the Nationals would also carry out an audit within 200 days if elected, reprioritising infrastructure spend back towards housing.
The Nationals said WA Labor had added 58 houses to the GROH program since 2017, over a period in which the state’s population had grown by 400,000.
The party also pledged today to run its election commitments past the state treasury, following sustained criticism levelled at it by Treasurer and WA Labor deputy leader Rita Saffioti.
The decision came despite weeks of conjecture over the politics.
Mr Love said the party was confident in the costings of its policies and would stand behind its financial commitments.
“WA Labor welcomes Shane Love’s decision to send his party’s commitments to Treasury, ahead of early voting beginning on Monday,” Ms Saffioti said.
The move leaves the WA Liberals as the only major party which is yet to run its costings past the treasury.
