Roger Cook and WA Labor to fund $145 million regional housing boost

A re-elected Cook Labor Government will invest $145 million to get more homes built in regional WA, faster.
  • Re-elected Cook Labor Government to ramp up delivery of new homes in regional WA
  • $25 million Regional Housing Support Fund to support new housing delivery and land supply
  • $104 million to more than double Government Regional Officer Housing new build program
  • Regional first homebuyers to save up to $17,765 with additional stamp duty relief

A re-elected Cook Labor Government will invest $145 million to get more homes built in regional WA, faster.

WA Labor’s Regional Housing package will also help to ease housing affordability challenges faced by many first homebuyers, increasing stamp duty relief available to those looking to purchase a house or unit in regional areas for the second time in 12 months.

A new $25 million Regional Housing Support Fund will provide grants of up to $5 million to unlock and expedite new housing projects and land supply across regional WA.

To be administered by the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage, the new fund will support key worker, community housing, local government, regional subdivision and other regional housing projects with a wide range of costs, such as construction, earthworks, drainage, decontamination and enabling infrastructure including gas and telecommunications connections.

To capitalise on improving housing market conditions, a re-elected Cook Labor Government will also invest $104 million to ramp up delivery of homes for teachers, police and other key government workers delivering essential services in regional WA.

The funding injection will more than double the program constructing new Government Regional Officer Housing (GROH) stock, adding more than 100 new two-bedroom, three-bedroom and four-bedroom homes across the Pilbara, Kimberley, Great Southern, Goldfields, Mid West/Gascoyne and Wheatbelt.

Regional first homebuyers will also benefit from increased stamp duty relief, resulting in savings of up to $17,765, with no transfer duty to be payable on homes purchased up to a value of $500,000 (up from $450,000) under a re-elected Cook Labor Government.

Under the changes, regional first homebuyers will pay a reduced rate when purchasing a home valued up to $750,000 (up from $600,000).

Furthermore, to encourage more regional housing supply, stamp duty thresholds will be lifted for purchases of vacant land, so that no stamp duty is payable up to $350,000 (up from $300,000 currently), with discounted rates up to $450,000 (up from $400,000) currently.

These measures will provide $16 million in support over the next four years that will benefit an estimated 3,000 first homebuyers in regional WA.

WA Labor’s Regional Housing package builds on the Cook Labor Government’s record investment in boosting housing supply and choice, with significant work already undertaken to unlock new housing projects, free up land, cut red tape, reduce stamp duty for first homebuyers and grow our critical construction workforce.

Comments attributable to Premier Roger Cook:

“We are beginning to see signs of improvement in the housing market, with building approvals and dwelling completions trending higher - but we need to keep up this momentum and supercharge delivery of new housing for regional Western Australians."

“Our new Regional Housing package will support delivery of hundreds of homes and potentially thousands of lots, while providing additional housing stock by building more new Government Regional Officer Housing for our teachers, police and other essential service providers."

“In recognition of the challenges faced by many first homebuyers in regional areas, we're increasing stamp duty relief for the second time in 12 months – with the latest change saving regional first homebuyers up to $17,765."

“Only a re-elected Cook Labor Government has a credible plan to accelerate housing supply and address affordability challenges for first homebuyers in regional WA.”

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