REIWA says housing policies must address WA's unique market conditions
As housing affordability remains a major issue in Australia’s federal election, the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia (REIWA) has urged political leaders not to overlook the state’s distinct challenges.
REIWA president Suzanne Brown (pictured above) said the organisation welcomed the national attention on housing but stressed that solutions must cater to local needs. “Housing affordability and supply constraints are being felt across the country, but the challenges in WA are unique and require localised responses within national frameworks,” Brown said.
Western Australia is facing one of its most strained rental markets in history, according to Brown, with the state’s vacancy rate holding below 1% for much of the past year. She warned that while national construction targets, such as the 1.2 million new homes goal, are ambitious, the government is falling behind.
Brown emphasised that “real delivery of these promises requires serious reform to planning systems, land release and construction workforce capacity, particularly in WA.”
She stressed that boosting supply is critical, noting that federal support is needed to speed up land release, cut approval times and grow the skilled construction workforce. “Boosting housing supply is the only long-term solution and that takes more than election promises,” she said.
While REIWA backs several initiatives aimed at helping first-time buyers, Brown cautioned that increased demand without supply-side action could worsen price pressures, particularly in Perth’s already tight market. Expanding programs such as the Home Guarantee Scheme, she said, may help more people enter the market but risk fuelling higher property prices unless supply constraints are addressed.
The institute also welcomed the major parties’ commitments to retaining current settings on negative gearing and capital gains tax. Brown said such measures are critical to investor confidence and rental stock. She warned against policies like those proposed by the Greens, which seek to abolish negative gearing, saying such moves would be “out of step with WA’s fragile rental environment.”
A REIWA survey highlighted the risks, with 83% of investors indicating that changes to property tax would affect their decision to sell their investment properties. Brown argued that “stable, practical policy” is essential to maintaining a functioning private rental market.
She added that while political attention to the housing crisis is important, “accountability and results matter most.” She called on the next government to deliver tangible outcomes for all Australians, including those in Western Australia.
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