Property Council lashes NIMBY candidates ahead of State election for opposing local developments

Labor’s Housing Minister John Carey and Cottesloe Liberal candidate Sandra Brewer — who until recently led a pro-density lobby group — have gone from allies to enemies on the issue of development. A stoush has been brewing in question time for the past two weeks with Mr Carey repeatedly attacking the former head of Property Council for her opposition to a 16-storey development on Station Street in Cottesloe, proposed by Sirona Urban. Mr Carey sarcastically lamented it “breaks my heart” that Ms Brewer had gone from supporting the Government’s planning reforms while at the Property Council, a post she quit in February, to opposing them as a Liberal candidate. It comes as her successor, Nicola Brischetto, weighed into the issue and — whilst stopping short of directly calling out Ms Brewer — said “some voices” were only capable of saying where they “don’t want new homes”. The Government’s planning reforms included stripping local councils of the power to make planning decisions in relation to major projects. “Last October, the Liberal candidate for Cottesloe stood right next to me... she said that our planning reforms were ‘robust, strong and resolute’,” Mr Carey told parliament. The minister contrasted this with a recent Instagram post where Ms Brewer claimed “another high-rise proposal in our suburbs demonstrates what is wrong with our planning and development system” and that “Labor is letting developers lead the process”. “Never have I seen someone, within such a short amount of time, dispense with everything they believe in,” he said. Ms Brewer fired back, claiming the minister was simply trying to deflect from Labor’s failures to address the housing crisis. The candidate told The West she was opposed to “ad hoc projects that don’t fit into a clear vision” and wanted developers to work with communities. “John Carey is doing everything he can to deflect from the housing crisis that the Cook Government has created,” she said. “I’ve been clear that the planning system needs to work for the community, with clarity and predictability about the future.” Ms Brewer vowed to “continue to be a strong advocate” for a planning approach that served the community. Ms Brischetto said WA could not afford to politicise the construction of new homes during a housing crisis. “Some voices are very good at saying where they don’t want new homes built but can’t say where they do want them built,” Ms Brischetto said. “There’s a whole new generation wondering how they’ll ever afford a home of their own, and even more West Australians are experiencing an insecure housing situation.” Ms Brischetto said any position that sought to limit or obstruct the delivery of new homes was “out of touch with the needs of Western Australia”. Mr Carey said it was an “absurdity” the Liberals had “candidates everywhere” opposing development, despite the party recently announcing $500M for infrastructure works, like sewerage and pipelines, to help developers get projects over the line. The Liberals say that policy — which apart from the price tag is similar to the Cook Government’s $80M Infrastructure Development Fund — will create 100,000 new homes.