Tuesday, 3 October 2023

Ministers statements: housing

Sonya KILKENNY (Carrum – Minister for Planning, Minister for the Suburbs) (14:36): I rise to update the house on the Allan Labor government’s bold housing reforms under our landmark housing statement. Our bold reforms are already igniting interest from industry partners wanting to be part of Victoria’s nation-leading plans to build 800,000 homes over the next decade. In the last fortnight alone the Labor government has received more than 100 inquiries from industry ready to roll up their sleeves and build thousands of new homes under an expanded development facilitation program.

This morning I was delighted to join the Premier to visit Nightingale Village in Brunswick, where former industrial land has been transformed into quality sustainable housing. This redevelopment demonstrates it is feasible to build sustainable, comfortable homes in established Melbourne while developing a mix of housing and retail, including a 20 per cent allocation of housing to affordable housing providers. Through our landmark housing statement we are going to make good decisions faster. We are reforming Victoria’s planning system, clearing the backlog of planning permits and giving builders, buyers and renovators certainty about how long approvals will take. Through our affordability partnership with industry, the Allan Labor government will help stimulate investment in the private market to build more affordable homes for the Victorians who need them most.

As Minister for Planning I will also lead the work to overhaul the Planning and Environment Act 1987 to create a modern, fit-for-purpose planning system that works for all Victorians, not against them. We will increase the supply of homes within established Melbourne, building more homes where Victorians want to live – near transport, roads, hospitals and schools and of course friends and families. We are also going to deliver a long-term housing plan to guide how our state grows in the decades ahead. We are getting on with the job of delivering more homes for more Victorians.

The SPEAKER: Question time has ended. The house will now move to constituency questions.

Tim Bull: On a point of order, Speaker, I wish to bring to your attention some overdue questions. They are question 132 to the Minister for Environment, which I asked in February, and I would hope that that could be followed up, given that it is very much well and truly past the allocated time to respond; and question 386 to the Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers; 387 to the Minister for Housing; 421 for the Minister for Housing; 434 to the Minister for Environment; 465 to the Minister for Agriculture; 466 to the Minister for Ambulance Services; 534 to the Minister for Ports and Freight; 536 to the Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers; 540 to the Minister for Environment; 601 to the Minister for Health for the Minister for Ageing; and 602 to the Minister for Health. I understand that there have been some portfolio changes, and I hope that the new ministers allocated to those portfolios will please follow up those questions as soon as possible.

Gabrielle de Vietri: On a point of order, Speaker, I refer to a previous constituency question of mine, 156, and the subsequent response. The question was to the Minister for Planning regarding Yarra council’s public open space interim amendment to the Yarra planning scheme amendment C306. The answer provided by the minister was in relation to a different amendment, that being amendment C286, which is a permanent amendment and not the interim one which was the subject of my question. I ask that you request the minister to provide me with an answer regarding the overdue planning scheme interim amendment approval.