Doorstop - Pier Street, Perth

PATRICK GORMAN, ASSISTANT MINISTER TO THE PRIME MINISTER: I am Patrick Gorman, Federal Member for Perth, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister and someone who is passionate about building more homes for more Australians. Great to be here with the Housing Minister, John Carey and my colleague, Senator Dorinda Cox. We are here at this project on Pier Street in the heart of Perth, because this is proof that our government, working with the states and territories, is building more homes for more Australians. Part of a $43 billion package of work for building homes. What we've got behind us is some 219 homes being built so that more people can live in this beautiful part of Perth, close to services, close to transport, close to jobs. Right now there's about 200 people working to build these homes. That would be available in 2027. It is part of the partnership that we've been really proud to build up with the Cook Labor Government. I want to thank John Carey for all the work that he's done in making sure that we can take these commitments and turn them in to practical results across Western Australia. We are doing this all over the country, and what we're announcing today is some of you will remember during the election campaign, we announced a really important commitment to build another 14 sites for social and affordable homes. John Carey has gone and done the hard work to find the builders to get that done. It is going to mean more than 1100 additional homes supplied into Western Australia. To talk about how we make it happen, I will pass over to John Carey.

JOHN CAREY, WA MINISTER FOR HOUSING AND WORKS: Thanks, Patrick. As I've said before - we're doing everything we can as the State Government to accelerate the delivery of housing in Western Australia, and that's through a whole different means and ways, and that includes enabling build to rent projects. And behind me is the first major build to rent project commissioned by a State Government that is now well underway, being built by Icon development. Build to rent is as it sounds, and that is that we fund the creation of apartments that are specifically built for social, affordable and private rentals and build to rent is critical if we want to provide relief to the rental market and provide additional supply. And so behind me is the first, but today we're announcing that we locked in the builders for a massive pipeline of 14 build to rent projects across a number of sites close to METRONET stations with three incredible builders. And so the three builders for our program is PACT Construction, EMCO Building and Icon Construction, as I said, who are behine me. I really feel like now that we are getting momentum, these are big, bold projects. It is unprecedented for a state government to build, to fund with the Federal Government build-to-rent projects. Now, under this model, once these build-to-rent projects are completed, we will sell them to community housing providers, and they will run these apartments. The mix will be a mix of social, affordable and private homes. But this is really a significant milestone. It demonstrates that we are getting momentum, that these longer term projects will provide that critical housing that we need into the future, I'll hand over to the Senator for a few words.

SENATOR DORINDA COX, SENATOR FOR WESTERN AUSTRALIA: Thank you Minister. It is the state and federal Labor governments, the Cook and Albanese Governments who are going to solve this. And this is the first [inaudible]. This is one of WA's biggest housing builds. Thank you to Minister Carey for all his amazing work and his leadership in this area. Eighty per cent are build to rent and 20% for community and social housing. That is going to make a real difference [inaudible]. I am the chair of the Community Services legislation committee, and amongst all of our inquiries and making sure our legislation gets to the Senate, we hear about the housing crisis. This is something we are addressing. We are going to make sure that this is something we put forward and we deliver on as part of our commitment to the Western Australian community.

JOURNALIST: Build to rent as a concept is sort of overdue for Perth. Have we been slow to this?

CAREY: Yes. Look, build to rent is quite common around the world. I think it's fair to say Australia overall has been slower to uptake, but in particular, Western Australia. In part, that's been because of our policy settings. So as a state government, we've now made attractive tax concessions, land tax concessions, but ultimately, what we know is this; that because of the current market conditions, it is difficult for the private sector to deliver affordable built-to-rent projects. So it really is unprecedented that a State Government comes in with the Federal Government, and says 'we're going to take responsibility for actually funding and building these projects, then we'll hand the keys over to a community housing provider to run.' And as we've heard these build to rent projects, [construction noise intensifies] as we've not heard. [Laughter]. As we've heard, these build to rent projects will provide 80% affordable rentals and 20% social housing. So they really are targeted at low income workers.

[INAUDIBLE QUESTION]

CAREY: This one's different. So this was our first project. This is 30% social housing, 20% affordable, and then 50% private rental. So the explanation is, as we go along, we refine the model, and it can also depend on the community housing provider. Today's announcement is about locking in the builders. It will be a significant pipeline of work. So this will be stage delivery, and now we will be procuring community housing providers to run this. Other states have more relied on the community housing sector coming forward with their projects as part of HAFF. We're doing something different, which is the state is taking the risk, the state is taking the responsibility, but I think ultimately our way will provide more reliable delivery.

JOURNALIST: No, because ultimately DevelopmentWA is the developer. So I need to be very clear -

[INAUDIBLE EXCHANGE]

CAREY: Yes. They own the whole project. They run it. So the idea is that this is transit-orientated development. If you are building in the city where you are close to significant public transport, then the message is, if you are a tenant or looking at these properties, that there is an expectation that public transport will be a key component of your life. Is not to say there isn't parking on site, but we're not forcing anyone to live here -

JOURNALIST: But how many. How many car parks?

CAREY: I'll have to come back to you on that.

UNATTRIBUTED VOICE: 163.

CAREY: 163.

[INAUDIBLE QUESTION]

CAREY: Well, I would say, it is a decision of the Federal Government. It's a competitive process. But I do know more rounds are coming, so it's not the end of the HAFF. And I have to point this out, under the previous Liberal Government, there was zero. There was nothing. We had no funding for housing projects. The HAFF represents an extraordinary opportunity, and Western Australia did better than most states in securing our slice of funding. We've had round two, and now I believe a round three will be coming out.

[INAUDIBLE QUESTION]

CAREY: The community housing providers run their own list. But generally there will be income caps. So it's not available to the full free market. There are income caps between them [inaudible].

[INAUDIBLE QUESTION]

CAREY: It is a staged approach. This is a big construction program. The first projects start early next year, and we anticipate they will roll out in completion from 2027.

JOURNALIST: Yesterday, the Premier said that elective surgeries will be conducted [inaudible].

CAREY: I think what the premier was referring to, first of all is, we are facing extraordinary pressures. It's unprecedented to see a thousand emergency calls coming to the system, and of course, we've also referred to the incredible aged care pressures. So what the Premier was referring to is; each day we work to manage the pressures, we manage the system, and ultimately, those decisions are made by the health service providers, and we've got to have confidence that they are doing it well.

[INAUDIBLE QUESTION]

CAREY: I'd say this, we do take it seriously. We understand that this does impact people, and I don't think anyone has shied away from that -

JOURNALIST: Do you agree it's more [inaudible]

CAREY: Look, respectfully, I don't know the individual circumstances of those people waiting for surgery -

JOURNALIST: Well, you would have heard yesterday about a [inaudible]

CAREY: Well, I accept that it is having an impact on people. I acknowledge that. But I don't know the individual circumstances. What I would say is; this is the system working hard to meet the demands and pressures, and as the Government and as the Health Minister has said, we have put everything on the table, and we are considering, always, new measures that provide relief to our hospital system.

JOURNALIST: How much of the backlog [inaudible]

CAREY: What I would say is, overall, we've done well in elective surgery. But this is to be, unfortunately anticipated. When we have such extraordinary demand on the system. We acknowledge it's tough, what we're facing at the moment, a thousand emergency calls, priority one cases through the roof. These are extraordinary demands and pressures, and the system works to manage that demand. And so you do see delays in elected surgeries. Look respectfully, I'm the Minister for Health Infrastructure, to say I'm not briefed on a day-to-day basis on the health operations, and I ask you speak to a Health Minister on that -

JOURNALIST: When you say you've put everything on the table. Are you aware of any of any [inaudible]

CAREY: No, I'm not, because [inaudible]

JOURNALIST: [inaudible]

CAREY: Well, we do have a winter plan. So, obviously, the State Government does plan for a surge. And of course, we do a range of measures like flu vaccination, which is about trying to prevent people ending up in our emergency wards. Of course, as we come to the end of the winter season, we will review what's worked, what hasn't worked, what else we need to do so that we can prepare for the next winter season?

JOURNALIST: What kind of plan, are you hypothetically [inaudible]

CAREY: Well, again, the system - I mean, the point i'm making is we have to consider each day, look at the pressures on the system, and then make determinations, including elective surgery.

[INAUDIBLE QUESTION]

CAREY: I'm not aware of that. What would you say to those people impacted today? Ultimately, we are sorry. We understand that this is impacting their lives. This is an extraordinary scenario, as I said, we do take it seriously, but ultimately, we have to allow the hospital system to manage this extraordinary demand, and that does include, as we heard from time to time, that we have to make decisions about elective surgery.

JOURNALIST: What did you make of the Opposition Leader's comments yesterday about the Premier blaming older people for going to hospitals?

CAREY: I don't accept that. I mean, look what we've seen from the Opposition is, you know, that's that's his job to throw everything at the government. But ultimately, that's not the case. What the Premier was pointing to is that the numbers of people who are elderly, who should be in aged care, is getting higher, and as I understand, there's now more than 300 people that would need beds that are now in the hospital system.

JOURNALIST: Can I confirm the question from the Opposition Leader directed at the Deputy Premier in Question Time yesterday. He queried whether she sought a pair - ?

CAREY: So can I say this; pairs are a normal part of the system, and we use pairs for a whole different range of purposes. An MP might be going on official duties. An MP might be having to do a meeting on behalf of the state government. But pairs are also used that so that members of parliament can also meet personal obligations and duties. Let's let's be real about this, Members of Parliament are people. They have family obligations. They have sick mums, and so they will seek a pair. And so it's not surprising what we hear from Basil Zempilas, because he's got form on this. This guy can't help it - he always just steps and goes over across the line. We've seen it again and again. He can't help himself, and he did it in parliament yesterday.

JOURNALIST: [Inaudible] maintained that Minister Saffioti didn't properly have a pair.

CAREY: I'm not advised of that, but I would say my understanding is that Lachlan Hunter was informed because he was making a grievance. I don't know the full circumstances, but can we come back to the main point? So the attack is that the minister had to go and visit her mother in aged care? Now I think most Western Australians would see that as a very legitimate concern, and that people understand - Members of Parliament, we're not aliens from another planet. We have families. We have sick relatives, and actually sometimes - shock, horror - family comes first. And so it's disappointing to see Basil Zempilas. The guy's got form on this. Does it all the time. He just goes that little too far, and he did go too far.

JOURNALIST: There was a lot of back and forth in Question Time yesterday. At one point David Michael complained to the Speaker about how many times the Opposition members had to be told to shut up. Ministers were frustrated that the Speaker wasn't intervening enough - is that right?

CAREY: Well, look, I think it was unruly yesterday, and I found it very difficult. So what I've learned as a minister now because of the level of intervention from the Opposition that I just stop, and if you notice now, I stop all the time. So I do think that it's a decision for the Speaker, but I do think that does need to be a clamp down, because I do think in part, it is taking away from the effectiveness of questions.

JOURNALIST: Alternatively, is Labor just used to having no Opposition in the chamber?

CAREY: Well, Basil Zempilas said yesterday that we had no scrutiny in Parliament. So Basil Zempilas directly criticised the performance of Libby Mettam and their former colleagues. Now, shame on him for being so dismissive. I think we've had a lot of scrutiny. We get scrutiny a lot from the media. I don't think over the last eight years that our government has been subject to less scrutiny than any other government.

JOURNALIST: Does the Premier have a call with the Israeli Ambassador, and if so -?

CAREY: Look, I'm not subject to those calls. My understanding is the Premier did speak to the Ambassador, which is pretty normal for a Premier or leader of a state to engage and have phone meetings, etc, with a range of officials, but I'm not aware of what that what that discussion is.

JOURNALIST: Questions for Assistant Minister Gorman. Are you lobbying to get more WA aged care funding?

GORMAN: What I am doing is what we committed to do three years ago, which was to recognise the huge challenges in Australia's aged care system and there was a range of problems. As a result, we took legislation through the parliament last year, a once in a decade piece of legislation to make sure that aged care is [inaudible] again. To make sure that we can get more funding and therefore more beds into the system, and to back in the policies that we took around having a nurse in aged care, 24/7, and the reason we did that was because some of these challenges were very clearly there, around pressures of taking money out of aged care and the health system. We did something about it, and it's made a difference. I know aged care centres in my electorate, this is my electorate, there's quite a few of them. People tell me that it has made a difference.

JOURNALIST: It hasn't made a difference. The nursing requirement has actually resulted in aged care beds in WA closing because the providers can't afford it. You just heard John Carey say the number of elderly patients in WA hospitals, there was 150 in March. Now it's more than 300. There's less aged care beds now than there was before. What are you doing about it?

GORMAN: Exactly what I just said. Because we have put through legislation that makes sure that for providers of aged care it is more attractive to invest in expansion. We have put forward the requirements around care minutes to make sure that people in aged care, some often vulnerable Australians, are getting the care that they need to look after their health -

JOURNALIST: So you're not asking the Prime Minister for more aged care funding in WA?

GORMAN: I want to make sure we have got more aged care beds, more aged care support and more home care packages across Australia.

JOURNALIST: But your -

GORMAN: This is about every Australian -

JOURNALIST: But you're the member for Perth though. You're the member for Perth. You represent WA in the halls of power. You're the Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister. How many, how many dollars have you told him WA needs for more aged care beds?

GORMAN: I sat in the parliament and I voted for both the Aged Care Reform Bill that will make sure we get the sort of aged care system we need for the future. And I voted for the budget, and that budget also had additional funding for aged care, along with additional funding for Western Australia's hospital system -

JOURNALIST: Have you specifically asked for more funding for aged care in WA?

GORMAN: We are already working on investing in aged care across Australia.

JOURNALIST: So no, you haven't.

GORMAN: Because it was clear - and we are standing in front of a housing project, which is because we are investing in housing. Because we had a government for a decade that didn't do anything about it. The Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison Government did nothing about housing. And we had, under that government, an aged care system that was defined by one word. That one word was 'Neglect.' That was the title of the interim Royal Commission Report about aged care in Australia under the previous Liberal government.

JOURNALIST: So just to be clear -

GORMAN: We took responsibility -

JOURNALIST: You have not [inaudible] made a specific request for more funding for aged care in WA?

GORMAN: I have advocated, and you can go back and look over a period of time for more investment in aged care. I voted for more investment in aged care -

JOURNALIST: But you haven't made a specific request for WA?

GORMAN: - and I voted for additional funding in the budget for hospitals here in WA. And I don't think you get any criticism that we haven't taken responsibility when it comes -

JOURNALIST: The Premier has criticised the Federal Government in the past two weeks -

GORMAN: - when it comes to addressing the long-standing aged care challenges that existed in Australia before we came to office. When we came to office, we took action. Acted on the Royal Commission report. We acted on what was we've been told by the sector to make it more invest-able. We acted to make sure that we had the care and support that vulnerable older Australians need in aged care. I'm very proud of the work we've done in aged care here in Western Australia -

JOURNALIST: So were Roger Cook, Meredith Hammat and Simone McGurk wrong?

GORMAN: - when I go and visit aged care centres in my electorate, the workers tell me they are appreciating the investment we have made to make sure we lift aged care worker wages to keep that sector working -

JOURNALIST: So was the Premier, the Health Minister and the Minister for WA Aged Care, wrong?

GORMAN: I am standing in front of a project which shows that we work really closely together. I am not going to get into a blame game -

JOURNALIST: - are they [inaudible] blame game?

COX: I can give you some updates - sorry, Patrick. So as the chair of the Community Services Committee, I am aware that the Premier and a delegation are heading to Canberra and meeting with the Health Minister specifically on this issue, on Tuesday. I'm looking forward to a briefing about that. I'm working with Minister Rae's office specifically on this. On 1 November, there'll be 80,000 Aged Care Home Care Packages going live across the country. We've just finished an inquiry into aged care bills, which will be hitting the Senate on Tuesday afternoon. So this government is very, very, very keen to ensure that we are alleviating the hospital system, that we are doing everything we can, and I, as a Western Australian Senator, a Western Australian Labor Senator, will be in there making sure that I advocate strongly for Western Australians.

JOURNALIST: Home Care Packages were meant to come online first of July.

COX: That's right -

JOURNALIST: - that's being deferred until November. It's all too little too late, isn't it?

COX: Well, it's not. Minister Rae's office and the Department have been out consulting with the services, with this sector, and took advice, in fact, to make sure that everything was up to date and in line for all of those packages to come online -

JOURNALIST: Simone McGurk has said the deferral is disappointing.

COX: Well, I know that Minister McGurk has some views about that, and I'm sure that she'll express that to the Health Minister next week. And I'm looking forward to the update of the Premier's meeting with Minister Butler in relation to this, and I'll continue to work for and advocate for West Australians, particularly our older Australians.