Update on Western Australia strata-property reform: New legislation “unlikely” in 2016
July 15, 2016
BY Kevin Zakreski
As part of its Strata Property Law Project—Phase Two, BCLI is following reform efforts unfolding in other jurisdictions, such as Ontario, New South Wales, and Western Australia.
Earlier this month, Landgate—a major contributor to Western Australia’s project—published an update on progress in that state. The update quoted Western Australia’s minister for lands:
Recently the Minister for Lands said that he had “hoped strata title reform would be introduced into Parliament by the end of the year but that is now looking unlikely.” He went on to say “These reforms are a large and complex body of work and the State Government is doing a thorough job making sure the legislation meets the needs of the property industry and the community.”
Landgate’s update went on to say:
Legislation progress has also been impacted by a number of other legislative priorities and the pending state election. Landgate will continue to assist the [Parliamentary Counsel’s Office] to progress the drafting process and prepare the Bill, for introduction when the time is right.
Landgate has published a series of articles discussing the project’s major areas of reform, which are:
- the new forms of strata: community title schemes and leasehold strata;
- improved management;
- clearer and easier ways to resolve disputes;
- terminations of schemes;
- staged strata development;
- better buyer information.
BCLI plans to keep abreast of developments in Western Australia.
