CCIWA has welcomed the Western Australian Government’s $692 million dollar investment in housing in regional WA, as an important first step towards addressing the housing supply issues in this state.
The funding in next week’s state budget will include an extra $419 million over four years to boost government worker accommodation in regional cities and towns.
CCIWA Chief Economist, Dr Daniel Kiely, said the focus on regional WA will help ease the pressure being felt across the state.
“Housing supply has emerged as one of the top barriers to growth in regional WA, and it’s directly linked to chronic skills shortages being faced in country areas,” he said.
“Businesses consistently tell us they can’t attract workers because they don’t have anywhere to live.”
CCIWA had previously called for significant changes to the Government Regional Officer Housing (GROH) program, which provides housing for Government workers like police, nurses and teachers.
Dr Kiely said the Government has made some important changes to the scheme to boost supply.
“The GROH program helps to support the delivery of frontline services across regional WA, but a lack of supply has meant that those properties are being taken from the pool of private rentals,” he said.
“We also welcome the overhaul of subsidies to encourage government workers to buy their own homes.”
Dr Kiely said regional WA will play a central role in diversifying the state’s economy.
“There are important opportunities right across regional Western Australia, including critical minerals, clean energy, defence, advanced manufacturing, tourism and agriculture,” he said.
“It’s also encouraging to see industry play a central role in funding and planning this new housing investment, highlighting the importance of close collaboration between business and Government.”
