North West housing shortage now ‘very clear' for Zempilas following listening tour
At the start of June, Mr Zempilas visited a number of towns in the north west including Port Hedland, Karratha and Exmouth.
Mr Zempilas told 6PR his trip to the Pilbara was a revelation for him on housing in the region.
'I have been well aware that we have a housing crisis in Perth, and it's been very clear to me . . . but to go up north and see how grave the situation is up there with housing, public housing, construction of housing, release of land for housing,' he said.
'It is very clear to me now that this is a statewide epidemic, we just can't get enough housing for the people that we need.'
Mr Zempilas said the housing response needed to be applied to across the State.
'This is the seriousness of the situation, not just about what's happening here in the city, it's also what's happening in our State,' he said.
'If we want to continue to grow our state, for it to remain the economic powerhouse that it is, we need to find ways to get more housing into our Statewide system.'
City of Karratha Mayor Daniel Scott said he was glad Mr Zempilas was bringing up the issue as he thought many metropolitan residents weren't aware of the struggles in the regions.
Mr Scott said the situation in the region was 'dire' with a potential shortage of 3000 homes over five years just to house staff for upcoming projects.
'We have a perception issue up here of being a mining region or mining city and although it is a mining region, towns like Karratha we're a port city,' he said.
'There are no mines in Karratha, we're a port city where we export iron ore and oil and gas and salt and we're of such strategic importance to not just the state but the national economy.
'The housing situation in Karratha is in our opinion of far more importance than it is elsewhere because we're literally underpinning the national economy and we are the answer to decarbonising Australia.'
The comments come as the Duties Amendment Bill 2025 was passed by parliament on Tuesday, lifting the transfer duty exemptions for first home buyers.
No transfer duty is payable for homes valued up to $500,000 while the rate of duty is reduced for homes between $500,000 and $700,000 in the Perth metropolitan and Peel region.
Outside the two regions the reduced rate of duty goes up to $750,000.
An estimated 22,000 first home buyers will pay less duty across the next four years with 8000 will pay none.
Finance Minister David Michael said the legislation would help get more people into homes.
'I'm proud to see this legislation pass through the WA Parliament last night, delivering on our election commitment to help more Western Australians achieve their dream of home ownership,' he said.
'It is significant legislation aimed at assisting first home buyers but beyond that it will help those people looking at off-the-plan purchases.'
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