As Western Australia approaches its election, housing policies have taken a prominent role in discussions, with major political parties presenting their strategies to tackle the state’s housing issues.
The Labor Party is placing a strong emphasis on social housing, with a commitment to construct 1,000 new homes each year. Furthermore, they have allocated $50 million to accelerate construction timelines and an additional $19.5 million to assist the homeless population.
In contrast, the Liberal Party also aims to bolster social housing but has not disclosed how many homes they plan to build. They proposed a $100 million initiative to promote downsizing for those living in large properties and set aside another $100 million to construct 100 homes for government employees in regional areas.
The National Party has announced a significant investment of $1 billion aimed at developing 1,000 new homes specifically for government workers in regional locations, along with committing $10 million to address homelessness.
Meanwhile, the real estate market in Western Australia reports a slight downturn in available properties, currently listing 4,829 homes for sale. However, sales activity has increased, with 1,079 properties sold or under offer recently. Popular suburbs for sales include Baldivis, Gosnells, Perth, and East Perth.
On the luxury end of the market, a four-bedroom, two-bathroom residence in Wembley Downs sold for a notable $3.2 million, while a more modest property in Dudley Park was sold for just over $600,000. In the rental sector, there are currently 2,016 properties available, with 690 leased out this past week.
As the election draws nearer, the focus remains on finding effective solutions to Western Australia’s housing challenges, with various proposals surfacing from the state’s political parties.