❓ Dr. Honey questions Premier McGowan's shift on community consultation in planning, alleging a potential misleading of the public. McGowan defends planning changes, emphasizing affordable housing and criticizes the Liberal Party's stance.
AnsweredQoN 244Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PLANNING — COMMUNITY CONSULTATION
244. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Premier:
I thought the minister would go on a
bit more about her good work!
In August 2016 in an interview with
the ABC, and in December 2016 in a meeting with the Property Council of
Australia, the Premier stated that he ''would like to see more community
consultation in planning decisions''.
(1) Given the
Premier's apparent concerns in 2016 that there was not enough
consultation with communities over planning
decisions, why has the Premier changed his mind about the need for more
consultation with communities over local planning decisions, as evidenced by
his recently announced planning law changes?
(2) Did the Premier mislead the
public in 2016 just to gain electoral support at the 2017 election?
244. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Premier:
I thought the minister would go on a
bit more about her good work!
In August 2016 in an interview with
the ABC, and in December 2016 in a meeting with the Property Council of
Australia, the Premier stated that he ''would like to see more community
consultation in planning decisions''.
(1) Given the
Premier's apparent concerns in 2016 that there was not enough
consultation with communities over planning
decisions, why has the Premier changed his mind about the need for more
consultation with communities over local planning decisions, as evidenced by
his recently announced planning law changes?
(2) Did the Premier mislead the
public in 2016 just to gain electoral support at the 2017 election?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) It
is interesting that the Liberal Party is now reverting to things I said in—when
was it; August 2016?—as part of the member for Cottesloe's
questioning in March 2023, as though I am supposed to remember what I allegedly
said in a meeting in August 2016. I make the point that we will be proceeding
with our planning changes, which are designed to ensure that there is more
affordable housing and a more diverse array
of housing for Western Australians without unnecessary inhibition and without
nimbyism taking over . The interesting question is whether the Liberals
and the Nationals will back it. Will you support our laws?
Dr D.J. Honey : Show us.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Will you
support them?
Dr D.J. Honey : Do you want a blank
cheque?
Mr M. McGOWAN : Is the answer
yes or no? Do you support the removal of red tape?
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Do you support
the removal of red tape and unnecessary bureaucracy or do you not? That is your choice. You are on the side of red tape
and bureaucracy or you are on the side of getting things done! It appears from the tone of the member's question that he is on the side of red
tape and bureaucracy. You look and sound like a bureaucrat, member for
Cottesloe.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Just pause for a
moment, please, Premier. Members of the opposition, there is likely to be the
opportunity for a supplementary question, if we can get the Premier's
answer to the original question completed without too much more interruption.
Mr M. McGOWAN : You are showing every sign of being a bureaucrat
who just revels in red tape and masterful inactivity. That is what the Liberal
Party is about these days. We are about getting things done. People can see cranes everywhere around our city because things
are happening. We want to see things happen. We want projects to occur.
That is why we are making the planning changes. When I went and opened ONE
Subiaco last week on the old Subiaco market
site, there were 500 people there who were happy. There are going to be 500 or
600 people living there in the midst of restaurants, cafes, pubs, bars
and things, creating life and vitality near the city. Who opposed that? The Liberal Party. We are going to see the
same thing down at The Grove development. The Liberal Party and its
friends at the Post seem to have a bit of a set against me and the
Minister for Planning. The Post actually said that the Minister for
Planning is responsible for destroying all the gardens in Nedlands.
Ms R. Saffioti : I have destroyed my own.
Mr M. McGOWAN : We all know she's a bad
gardener, but even that is a stretch!
Under the changes the
minister has brought in, there is enhanced consultation. Some of the changes we
announced were in relation to
development assessment panels, which require local government representation.
For some of the bigger developments—the over $20 million
developments—there will be a central process that will involve
consultation.
is interesting that the Liberal Party is now reverting to things I said in—when
was it; August 2016?—as part of the member for Cottesloe's
questioning in March 2023, as though I am supposed to remember what I allegedly
said in a meeting in August 2016. I make the point that we will be proceeding
with our planning changes, which are designed to ensure that there is more
affordable housing and a more diverse array
of housing for Western Australians without unnecessary inhibition and without
nimbyism taking over . The interesting question is whether the Liberals
and the Nationals will back it. Will you support our laws?
Dr D.J. Honey : Show us.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Will you
support them?
Dr D.J. Honey : Do you want a blank
cheque?
Mr M. McGOWAN : Is the answer
yes or no? Do you support the removal of red tape?
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Do you support
the removal of red tape and unnecessary bureaucracy or do you not? That is your choice. You are on the side of red tape
and bureaucracy or you are on the side of getting things done! It appears from the tone of the member's question that he is on the side of red
tape and bureaucracy. You look and sound like a bureaucrat, member for
Cottesloe.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Just pause for a
moment, please, Premier. Members of the opposition, there is likely to be the
opportunity for a supplementary question, if we can get the Premier's
answer to the original question completed without too much more interruption.
Mr M. McGOWAN : You are showing every sign of being a bureaucrat
who just revels in red tape and masterful inactivity. That is what the Liberal
Party is about these days. We are about getting things done. People can see cranes everywhere around our city because things
are happening. We want to see things happen. We want projects to occur.
That is why we are making the planning changes. When I went and opened ONE
Subiaco last week on the old Subiaco market
site, there were 500 people there who were happy. There are going to be 500 or
600 people living there in the midst of restaurants, cafes, pubs, bars
and things, creating life and vitality near the city. Who opposed that? The Liberal Party. We are going to see the
same thing down at The Grove development. The Liberal Party and its
friends at the Post seem to have a bit of a set against me and the
Minister for Planning. The Post actually said that the Minister for
Planning is responsible for destroying all the gardens in Nedlands.
Ms R. Saffioti : I have destroyed my own.
Mr M. McGOWAN : We all know she's a bad
gardener, but even that is a stretch!
Under the changes the
minister has brought in, there is enhanced consultation. Some of the changes we
announced were in relation to
development assessment panels, which require local government representation.
For some of the bigger developments—the over $20 million
developments—there will be a central process that will involve
consultation.
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