Page 724 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 8 April 2014
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The presentation of this bad legislation just one sitting day after he brought it to this place shows that this government and this minister are complacent, arrogant, power hungry and disrespectful. The government seems determined to re-create the conditions which saw the Wollongong City Council get into so much strife. This bill is a lobbyist’s dream.
In conclusion, the Canberra Liberals do not support this bill. We are alarmed to see this government give itself even more power to approve whatever projects it sees fit. This bill exposes the government to undue pressure from lobbyists and removes important appeal mechanisms from our planning system. The opposition does have concerns with the use of ministerial call-in powers at present. However, far from increasing the level of scrutiny on ministerial decisions, we believe that this bill drastically reduces the transparency of the territory’s planning system. We already have an incomprehensible planning system, and this bill makes it even worse.
MR BARR (Molonglo—Deputy Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Sport and Recreation, Minister for Tourism and Events and Minister for Community Services) (10.36): Territory building projects are important for who we are and what we are. They create employment and wealth and build our community. From time to time we build projects that are for the benefit of the whole community, without which we would be poorer.
Madam Speaker, I begin my contribution this morning by quoting from your good self in your introductory speech to the 2004 Projects of Territorial Significance Bill that was introduced by the Canberra Liberals. You said that the legislation was prompted by the imperative:
… to promote Liberal policy and Liberal belief that some projects are sufficiently important that third party appeals are not necessary and unwarranted and get in the way of the progress of the territory …
You went on to say, Madam Speaker:
I am glad the government has recognised the fact that some projects are subject to vexatious and frivolous objection and that they should be protected from what I have previously termed “legal guerrilla warfare”.
The proposal that you brought forward at that time you claimed was broader than just the GDE. You said:
It provides for the future. It provides that other projects of significance that will have an impact on territorial employment, economy and infrastructure will go ahead.
The then minister, Bill Wood, in interjecting in this debate nearly 10 years ago, indicated that the government was working on a similar piece of legislation. I think that it ended up being project-specific in relation to the GDE. This was a bit before my time, a few years before I came into the Assembly, but those of you who have been here longer may well remember these specific debates.
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