Page 3277 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 21 August 2019
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assessment model has allowed the authority to increase its efficiency, and it is currently determining more development applications than it is receiving. I want to reinforce that: it is now determining more development applications than it is receiving. The new staged model has seen the authority reduce the number of DAs in the system quite considerably since it was introduced in August 2018. I am confident that the authority is constantly investigating and implementing measures to improve and manage DA processing times.
As the minister responsible for planning, I am aware of the effects that delays can cause in the assessment and determination of DAs and for those who lodge DAs. I am assured by the authority that they are committed to business improvements to meet industry and community expectations. The authority has already seen positive results in these measures so far, with the authority determining more DAs than it is receiving, as I mentioned earlier.
While these measures will take some time to fully address the backlog, I am confident that the authority is on the right path and that there will be a return to the regular meeting of statutory time frames.
If Mr Parton is interested in knowing the DA process statistics, he can simply check the EPSDD website that I mentioned earlier, where the data is recorded each month. But we know it is easier for Mr Parton to turn it into some point-scoring exercise than do the actual work. Requiring this information to be reported to the Assembly is a poorly researched thought bubble, which Mr Parton is renowned for. He is treating the Assembly like he treats social media: putting random thoughts out there, with no consideration of the facts.
The government is committed to investing in our public service and our public services. We trust and we employ professionals who can exercise judgement over their workloads and work together as a team to deliver solid planning outcomes for our city. The government does not micromanage staff by reporting publicly on individual performance or periods of leave. This government does not pit public servants against each other. Instead we invest in our public services by ensuring that we have the workforce in the areas where they are needed most.
I am deeply concerned that this motion demonstrates that Mr Parton does not trust our public servants, much like his friends on the hill. We all know that those opposite do not trust and respect our public servants, which is why the first thing that Liberals do when they are in government is to cut, cut, cut. We do not cut public service jobs. Instead this government will continue to ensure that public services, including DA assessments, stay in public hands.
I thank Mr Parton for the opportunity to talk about the good work that the planning and land authority is doing and the positive investment and economic development environment that this government is delivering for the territory.
MR HANSON (Murrumbidgee) (3.33): I was not intending to speak to this motion but after that speech by the minister I think it is important that I do. We did not hear anything substantive from the minister about what action will actually be taken to
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