Passing the baton but not the job

As I write my final column as President of the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia, I do so with enormous pride and gratitude.

Leading REIWA has been the privilege of my professional life. I've worked alongside an exceptional CEO, passionate members, a dedicated board and staff, and agents and property managers across Perth and regional WA who quietly do the hard work of housing our community every day.

Our industry is often misunderstood. Behind every sale and every lease is a family finding a home, a retiree securing their future, or a young person signing their first lease. I have seen first-hand the professionalism, care and ethics our members bring to that work.

I am proud of how REIWA has championed higher standards, better training and a strong voice for consumers and property professionals alike. I am also so proud of how agents have navigated policy reform and additional compliance burdens such as Anti-Money Laundering requirements. But pride is no reason for complacency as WA still faces a serious housing challenge. Too many people are struggling to find a rental, too many first home buyers are being priced out, and too few homes are being built quickly enough to meet demand.

That is why REIWA must keep lobbying government, firmly and constructively. We need policy that is logical, sensible and balanced. I would ask every level of government to judge housing policy against one test: does it add homes, or take them away? Reform should be based on evidence, not headlines, and must consider its impact on everyone in the housing system.

First, we must cut red tape. Planning approvals take too long and cost too much, and every delay adds to the price of a home. Streamlining approvals, releasing land faster and backing well-designed infill would make a real difference.

Second, tenants must be protected. Every renter deserves a safe, well-maintained home, fair treatment and genuine security. Good regulation and professional property management deliver exactly that.

Third, owners must be inspired to invest. Most rental homes in WA are provided by everyday investors, not large corporations. If we make investing too hard, too costly or too risky, they leave the market and tenants are the ones that pay the price. Stable tax settings, sensible regulation and incentives to invest in rental stock will ensure a healthy rental market.

I would also like to see government invest more in social and affordable housing, grow the construction workforce we need, and work in genuine partnership with industry. Housing is not one sector's problem; it is everyone's responsibility.

To our members, thank you for your trust and support. To my fellow board members and the REIWA team, thank you for your wisdom and hard work, and to my successor, I wish you every success. You inherit an organisation that is strong, respected and ready to lead.

I may be stepping down as President, but I will never stop advocating for a fair and functioning housing market that works for every Western Australian.