Page 3601 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 24 November 2021
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Planning—ACT Planning System Review and Reform Project update
MS CLAY: My question is to the Minister for Planning and Land Management. Minister, I was really pleased yesterday to hear the update on the consultation you had been doing on the planning review, and to hear that community and stakeholders were being consulted. A lot of us are very keen to get the detail of what the new legislation might look like. Can you tell me when the exposure draft will be released?
MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Ms Clay for the question. Yes, we are looking at releasing that as soon as that work has been done. I would imagine it will be a full consideration early next year, so there is some work that cabinet and EPSDD are doing at the moment to ensure that it is on track for February next year.
MS CLAY: Can you tell me what the length of time will be for community and stakeholder consultation on that exposure draft if it is released in February next year?
MR GENTLEMAN: There will be quite a bit of consultation on that exposure draft for the community. I do not have the details of the timelines with me at the moment. I will take that on notice and come back to Ms Clay.
MR BRADDOCK: I have a supplementary question. Minister, what do you hope to have achieved with the planning review by the end of this term in 2024?
MR GENTLEMAN: What we want to see at the end of this is a strategic change away from the current planning system. We want to be more efficient. We want to be outcomes focused and deliver on a planning system for the ACT that brings us an opportunity for Canberrans to choose the way they want to live into the future—whether they want to live in denser accommodation close to town centres along transport corridors, or live in RZ1 zones with larger backyards, as Mr Parton is after, in suburbs. I think it will give us not only some flexibility in planning but some certainty for the industry into the future. It will certainly be outcomes focused.
ACT Corrective Services—detainee transfers
MRS KIKKERT: My question is to the Minister for Corrections. In July 2021, a detainee escaped from corrections custody when their car was rammed by an accomplice helping the detainee escape. Thankfully, the professional actions of the officers in the car prevented any bystanders being hurt. The former senior director at the AMC has said that the practice of supplying detainees with their appointment details created a safety risk for officers and that it was not the first time there had been an incident in relation to hospital escorts. I note that I am not asking about the court case, as I know the minister cannot comment on it. Minister, what other incidents have occurred in relation to hospital escorts?
MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Mrs Kikkert for the question. It is a matter that is being investigated at the moment by the Inspector of Correctional Services, and that will be available to us very shortly, I think. I will be happy to table that and report on the government’s response in due course.
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