From the CEO
Earlier this week, I experienced ‘speed dating’ of a different kind in Canberra, as UDIA National met with various Federal Ministers and Shadow Ministers.
Along with UDIA WA President Richard Pappas, UDIA National President Col Dutton and colleagues from UDIA National and the other states, we headed to Parliament House on Monday for a round of fast paced meetings, including with the Minister and Shadow Minister for Housing. Col had the opportunity to provide a brief rundown of UDIA’s key priorities, including those set out in the soon to be launched UDIA National 2025 Federal Election Campaign – Fast Track Housing Delivery.
UDIA’s campaign will focus on market-wide initiatives that ramp up housing capacity and productivity to deliver new at-market and affordable homes for Australians, and it is closely aligned with UDIA WA’s 2025 State Election Campaign.
Discussions throughout these valuable meetings were focused on the importance of the Federal Government taking on board insights from UDIA’s recently released Development Ready Pipeline project, critical infrastructure funding, streamlining environmental approvals systems, incentives to boost housing for middle Australia, leveraging the Housing Accord to drive supply and immediate and medium-term measures to address labour, skills and productivity challenges like prioritising migrants with house trade skills.
It was encouraging to see both sides of politics acknowledging the scale of the housing supply challenge and the important role of the Federal Government in tackling the issues.
It was timely that this week we also saw the Albanese Government’s Help to Buy Bill finally passed into law by parliament on Wednesday. After a two-month deadlock, new Housing Minister Claire O’Neil secured Greens support to get the legislation through, which will assist more first home buyers enter home ownership.
Today we also heard that controversial Nature Positive legislation will not progress through parliament this year following strong advocacy from the mining sector in WA that was supported by Premier Roger Cook, who expressed the bills should not progress in their current form.
While UDIA was supportive of the intent of aspects of the Nature Positive reforms, there has been extensive engagement with the Federal Government on changes needed to ensure they do not add unnecessary red tape to what is already a complex approvals landscape. UDIA continues to emphasise the need of industry for a simple, clear framework that can be efficiently navigated. The focus in the immediate term will be liaising with the Minister’s Office and DCCEEW in an effort to clear the pipeline of projects across the country that are being held up.
A busy week was complemented by a fantastic End Of Year Celebration for UDIA WA at Stories Rooftop in Yagan Square last night. I enjoyed the opportunity to catch up with so many of our members as we head into the final few weeks of the year!
Acting CEO
Sarah Macaulay
UDIA holds key Canberra meetings
UDIA WA President Richard Pappas, Acting CEO Sarah Macaulay along with other state and national counterparts met in Canberra on Monday for a host of meetings with key Government and Opposition ministers, including new Housing Minister Claire O’Neil.
It was a great opportunity to gain insight into the major parties and key portfolio holders’ perspective on housing issues. With key points from the Labor camp including that housing will continue to be a top priority going into and post-election.
The Government is focused on aligning all levels of government around facilitating housing; releasing the finalised National Urban Policy by the end of the year; and they are seeking to identify where investment will make the biggest difference in delivering well located, affordable housing of sufficient scale.
It was positive to also learn the Government is looking at the skilled migration list and acknowledges the need to provide greater certainty for proponents around the EPBC and what is next in relation to nature positive reforms, now that legislation will not be progressed as soon as they’d hoped.
The Liberal’s focus areas for the Election appeared to include overcoming the home deposit hurdle that is a barrier for many potential buyers; and serviceability and access to finance. In relation to land supply, they’ve already made commitments around critical infrastructure funding and are keen to look at what the Commonwealth can do directly to alleviate the crisis, rather than necessarily incentivising the states. Cutting regulation and red tape was also on the agenda, for example their recent commitment to freeze further NCC changes, which has been welcomed by UDIA.
Help to Buy Scheme passes Parliament
UDIA has welcomed the passing of the Federal Government’s Help to Buy Scheme legislation into law this week, following several delays.
With support from the Greens, the legislation was able to get through the Senate and will now be enacted to assist eligible home buyers to enter the property market sooner via financial support to households who might otherwise never be able to own their home.
UDIA has previously thrown our support behind the scheme, with President Col Dutton stating that Help to Buy relieves pressure on an exhausted rental system, providing the opportunity for families to realise their dream of home ownership, while freeing up rental properties for other families.
The scheme is aimed at helping key groups of renters into homes and freeing up rental properties for others in the market. The government will provide 40,000 places in the scheme over four years, meaning 10,000 eligible households can take up the offer each year. Any unused places from previous financial years of the program will get rolled onto the following year.
“Home Ownership is a critical piece of the housing puzzle and this initiative ensures that access to ownership is for all Australians and not just those with the funds to go it alone. The real answer is to remove barriers to housing supply while ensuring working Australians have the same opportunity as others to own a home,” Mr Dutton said.
Environmental Protection Agency Expanded Board
UDIA WA congratulates David Caddy, Kelly Faulkner MAICD, Anthony Sutton, and Dr Luke Twomey on their appointment to the expanded Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) board.
The move to expand the board up to nine members will make WA’s EPA board the largest in the country, while also bringing the EPA in line with Government comparable boards like the Heritage Council of WA and the WA Planning Commission.
Along with expanding the board, the legislated amendments to the Environmental Protection Act 1986 aim to limit the extent that members are conflicted out of decision making in a bid to reduce approval delays.
Of the appointees, Environment Minister Reece Whitby said, “their appointments will ensure WA’s high environmental protection standards are upheld while supporting efficient processes.”
Each appointee brings with them a wealth of knowledge and experience from other government roles, and we look forward to working with the expanded EPA board moving forward.
Albanese to grace the front cover of the next issue of The Urbanist
Keep your eyes out for the next edition of UDIA WA’s membership magazine The Urbanist, that will be published in early December. The edition will unpack the importance of leadership and will feature a cover story with Prime Minster Anthony Albanese that explores his journey to the highest leadership position in Australia, the privilege of leadership, and his government’s priorities in relation to navigating the housing crisis.
Also featuring in this edition of The Urbanist is an in-depth interview with Dale Alcock, Managing Director of ABN Group, that examines his personal career journey and what drives him as a leader; a sit down with 2024’s Women in Leadership Award winner Emma Colombera; an exploration of the UDIA WA Emerging Leaders program with one of our new mentor/mentee pairings, Lex Barnett and Luke Oliver, and much more!
UDIA takes to the heart of the city to celebrate the end of year
Last night, over 250 UDIA WA members and guests descended into the heart of the Perth CBD to Yagan Square for an evening under the stars at Stories Rooftop Bar.
With Christmas and the summer break fast approaching, Stories provided a vibrant and energetic atmosphere for the End of Year Celebration, allowing everyone to unwind after the busy year that 2024 has been.
This year, we combined our Outlook EOY Party with our traditional EOY sundowner, and it was a great success given the event sold out, and it provided attendees with the opportunity to network with a very diverse group of industry professionals.
Thank you to everyone that joined us in the city last night to celebrate the end of another year! It’s a pleasure working with our members, and we look forward to working with everyone in 2025.
A special thank you goes to our Outlook Partners Parcel and UPD along with Event Sponsors Douglas Partners, Longreach Recruitment and MNG for making this event possible.
Last chance: EOI Communities’ Housing Construction and Refurbishment Builders Panel
Closing Monday 2 December, the Communities’ Housing Construction and Refurbishment Builders Panel is currently open for its 2024 annual refresh.
Communities are seeking registered builders who are interested in being involved in the delivery of new and refurbished residential dwellings across the state as part of the Government’s investment in building 4,000 social homes.
Expressions of Interest close Monday 2 December, register your interest.
View Housing Construction and Refurbishment Builders Panel
View Housing – Procurement and Contracts: Tendering
New speakers added to the UDIA WA Annual Development Conference 2025 lineup
Part of a packed three-day schedule, Chief Scientist of WA, Professor Peter Klinken and Director of Healthy Streets Lucy Saunders will be joining our lineup of speakers for the 2025 UDIA WA Annual Development Conference.
To be held at the Hilton Garden Inn, in Busselton, the 2025 Conference will explore what it means to develop the future of WA and how as an industry we can deliver sustainable outcomes. Surrounded by the stunning views of Geographe Bay, join us at the Annual Development Conference and be inspired to rise to the challenges of tomorrow.
Hurry, early bird closes December 31, register today and don’t miss out!
UDIA WA’s participation in Movember 2024
Chris Thurmott, Toby Adams, Isaac George, and Aaron Muilne have been partaking in this year’s Movember efforts to raise funds, and awareness, for Men’s Health – with a particular focus on men’s mental health.
Chris, Toby and Isaac have been growing their moustaches out with great fervor – with Toby particularly leaning into cricketing greatness channeling the likes of Mitchel Johnson and Dennis Lillee. Aaron meanwhile has focused on moving 60kms over the month – a reflection of men lost each hour globally.
Support the team, and donate, before November ends!
Local government reforms
This week the State Government passed the Local Government Amendment Bill 2024. The Bill introduces a new Local Government Inspector role, that will have powers to oversee local governments in WA, with a focus on early intervention.
The Bill also overhauls the current system of complaints, providing a much wider range of tools to deal with complaints when a breach or contravention of the Local Government Act 1995 may have occurred.
Developed through extensive work and public consultation since 2017, the reforms also aim to improve the clarity of the roles and responsibilities for mayors and presidents, councilors and local government CEOS.
Additionally, the bill wants to improve transparency in local councils by requiring an increase in public transparency about rate increases and for councils to document reasons for closing part of a meeting to the public, while reducing unnecessary instances of closed meetings.
The Hon. Hannah Beazely said, “it’s essential that public confidence in our local governments is maintained and through these reforms there will be stronger powers and greater penalties available if and when needed”.