Page 1495 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 9 May 2017

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video


initiatives in relation to community engagement and statutory consultation and engagement requirements preserved in the Planning and Development Act which will apply to both entities.

In my ministerial statement in December last year I said:

We need to bring the community into the conversation early and trust the community with the information about the trade-offs, the commercial realities and, importantly, what is up for discussion and what is not. Here, we are talking genuine engagement with a truly representative sample of the community about how the vision for the city and new suburbs can come to life—a truly representative sample of the community.

Not just those who are angry at a particular moment in time and turn up to a public meeting but a truly representative sample of the community. Arguably, the election every four years provides a truly representative sample of community views, and I do note that despite all of the accusations that were hurled at me and the government by those opposite, the government was convincingly re-elected at the election last year. That is the fundamental statement of community values and a representative sample of the community.

Between elections it is important that the government continue to engage and, through this legislation and the range of other measures that we will introduce, we will improve community engagement. In establishing the new entities, the government is focused on fostering genuine and informed engagement with the entire community, not just angry people who turn up to a public meeting. We want to ensure that participation in decision-making about the future shape of our city is shared across all demographics and that all views in this city are represented.

As the Deputy Leader of the Opposition indicated in her speech, prior to the election I clearly foreshadowed the government’s intention to pursue this course of action to replace the Land Development Agency with two specialist, dedicated agencies: one focused on leading and facilitating the critical transformation of Civic and the Northbourne Avenue corridor, another dedicated to the equally important task of developing our vibrant new suburbs to meet continuing demand in our growing city. We are now commencing this task.

The urban renewal and suburban development portfolios were created to signal the government’s clear intention to direct effort at the ministerial and official level. In December I advised that work was—

Mr Coe interjecting—

MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Mr Coe, come to order. I warn you.

MR BARR: progressing to create the new public sector entities with clearly articulated roles and responsibilities, each with their own identity, structure and leadership.


Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video