WA Housing Commission: Hope or Another Study?

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  Published in House and Home on Sunday, February 15th 2026 at 12:05 GMT by The West Australian
      Locales: Western Australia, AUSTRALIA

WA Housing Commission: A Bold Step or Another Study Gathering Dust?

The housing affordability crisis in Western Australia is reaching a critical point, with soaring prices and dwindling rental availability impacting a broad spectrum of the population. In response, the State Government has established a Commission on Housing Affordability, a move met with both cautious optimism and skepticism. But can this commission truly "shift the dial" on a problem decades in the making?

WA has experienced a significant population boom in recent years, fueled by interstate migration and international arrivals. This rapid growth has dramatically outpaced the construction of new housing, creating a substantial supply shortage. Compounding this issue are persistent supply chain disruptions - a legacy of recent global events - and escalating construction costs driven by material scarcity and a tightening labor market. The result? Record-high property prices and rents, effectively locking many West Australians out of homeownership and leaving others struggling to secure even basic rental accommodation.

The newly formed commission boasts a diverse membership of experts from urban planning, development, construction, finance, and potentially, social housing advocacy. Their mandate is broad: to identify and propose solutions to increase housing supply and, crucially, improve affordability. The scope of their inquiry will encompass a thorough examination of existing planning regulations, zoning laws, development incentives, and the complexities of housing finance. A key focus will be on streamlining the often-cumbersome approval processes for new developments, recognizing that delays translate directly into increased costs and reduced supply.

Tanya Munro, CEO of the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) WA, stresses the need for a holistic approach. "We need to look at the entire system," she states, emphasizing the interconnectedness of various factors influencing housing availability. "That includes planning regulations, density controls, building approvals and financing. The commission needs to be fearless in its recommendations." The UDIA has been a vocal proponent of reform to planning regulations, advocating for greater flexibility in housing design and a move towards increased density. While higher-density housing is widely recognized as a crucial component of boosting supply, it frequently encounters resistance from local communities concerned about preserving neighbourhood character and infrastructure capacity.

This community pushback presents a significant hurdle. Balancing the need for increased density with the desire to maintain liveable and appealing neighbourhoods will require careful consideration and potentially, innovative approaches to urban design and infrastructure investment. Incentivizing community acceptance through benefits like improved local amenities and green spaces could prove essential.

The Master Builders Association of WA (MBA) also welcomes the commission, hopeful that it will deliver a more predictable and efficient building approval process. John Byrne, MBA director, highlights the need to address the chronic skills shortage in the construction industry. "It's a good opportunity to bring together different perspectives and find solutions," he says, with a particular focus on reducing bureaucratic red tape that adds unnecessary costs and delays to building projects. The MBA's perspective underscores the importance of not just what is built, but how efficiently it can be built.

However, despite the optimistic rhetoric, significant challenges remain. Bureaucratic inertia, deeply entrenched vested interests, and the potential for political interference all threaten to derail meaningful progress. Some experts express concern that the commission's recommendations, however sound, may be diluted or ignored by the government, particularly if they involve politically sensitive issues like zoning changes or increased density in established suburbs. The history of similar inquiries suggests that robust recommendations don't automatically translate into effective policy.

The commission is slated to deliver its findings and recommendations within 12 months. This timeframe, while reasonable, necessitates swift and decisive action from the government once the report is received. A prolonged period of deliberation or a piecemeal implementation of recommendations will only exacerbate the existing crisis. Furthermore, the commission's success will be closely tied to its ability to address not only the supply side of the equation, but also demand-side factors like population growth and investment patterns.

The formation of this commission represents a potentially pivotal moment for housing affordability in Western Australia. Whether it becomes a catalyst for meaningful change or another report destined to gather dust remains to be seen. The pressure is on for the commission to deliver bold, innovative, and actionable recommendations, and for the government to demonstrate the political will to implement them effectively.