The Albanese Government is funding reforms to boost housing supply and speed up approvals for commercial, mixed-use and residential developments in Western Australia
This is an important milestone that delivers on our ambitious productivity agenda and competition policy reforms.
It's all about cutting red tape and faster approvals to boost construction, build more homes and support businesses in Western Australia.
Under our National Competition Policy, the Commonwealth will provide $29.8 million for reforms that drive improvements to commercial planning and zoning rules and practices and increase the use of modern methods of construction:
- Consolidate land-use definitions and zones from the current system of more than 800 land-use terms and 269 zones, supporting increased commercial land use and cutting red tape across Perth Metropolitan and Peel Region which account for 85% of all development activity.
- Centralise development approvals with the WA Planning Commission for higher density residential and mixed-use developments within 800 metres of train stations, starting with ten metropolitan train precincts.
- Streamline development assessment processes and approvals by creating a fast-track decision-making pathway for renewable energy and strategic industrial projects, and establishing an Office of the Coordinator General.
- Modernise the planning system by developing a digital portal for the lodgement of subdivision applications, which is expected to save up to 4 weeks in the processing of new land subdivisions.
- Support greater use of modern methods of construction, which lift productivity and boost housing supply by encouraging innovation and dynamism in the construction sector.
In addition to this productivity package, Treasurers this month updated the National Competition Policy agreement.
Under this agreement a further $52.3 million in funding is available to Western Australia for reforms to increase access and productivity of heavy vehicles, support health workers to work at the full scope of practice, and harmonise standards for household electrical goods.
This additional funding for WA includes:
- $43.1 million for the Heavy Vehicles Productivity Reform package - part of a national plan that will boost GDP by up to $4.4 billion annually. This will cut red tape for the road transport sector, improve driver skills and knowledge and get more zero-emissions trucks on our roads
- $6.5 million to support reform so health care workers can work at their full scope of practice. Promoting consistent recognition of health care worker skills will improve access to health care, especially in rural and remote communities
- $2.7 million for household electrical consumer products - part of the National Single Market goods reform package expected to boost GDP by up to $1.1 billion a year.
In addition, Western Australia has agreed to implement the new National Competition Principles, which promote a nationally consistent and strengthened approach to competition policy across Australia.
The Commonwealth and Western Australia have worked collaboratively to develop the reform plan, which is Western Australia's first under National Competition Policy and the funding will be provided when reforms are delivered.
The funding available to Western Australia is part of the $900 million National Productivity Fund, established to incentivise states and territories to adopt reforms that will boost productivity and competition.
Together with agreements announced with Queensland, New South Wales, the ACT, Tasmania, South Australia and the Northern Territory, this is delivering a stronger, more productive and more competitive national economy.
By working together, the Commonwealth, states and territories can deliver nationwide economic outcomes that aren't possible if we work alone.
