❓ Ms. Winton asks about the success of planning reforms. Ms. Saffioti responds positively, highlighting achievements and criticising the opposition's stance.
AnsweredQoN 122Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PLANNING REFORM
122. Ms S.E. WINTON to the Minister for Planning:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's historic reform of Western Australian planning laws. Can
the minister update the house on how these reforms have not only supported
sensible development, but also helped create local jobs and drive economic
activity; and can the minister advise whether she is aware of any attempts to
oppose this government's responsible, fair and sustainable approach to
the planning system?
122. Ms S.E. WINTON to the Minister for Planning:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's historic reform of Western Australian planning laws. Can
the minister update the house on how these reforms have not only supported
sensible development, but also helped create local jobs and drive economic
activity; and can the minister advise whether she is aware of any attempts to
oppose this government's responsible, fair and sustainable approach to
the planning system?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
Of course, today is a momentous day.
Mr W.J. Johnston : Happy
birthday!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Thank you. Of
course that is true, too.
A
year ago, we sat in this chamber debating planning laws until 12 o'clock
at night. We were debating once-in-a-lifetime planning changes to
streamline the system and support the economic recovery from COVID. These
reforms are working. I acknowledge and thank the now Minister for Local
Government for his help in bringing in those planning changes. We created the
new state development assessment pathway. There are 48 projects worth more than
$4 billion currently under discussion. Six projects worth more than $200 million
have already been approved. We have reduced red tape. Now, people undertaking a
minor backyard modification—a cubbyhouse or a pergola—do not
need planning approval. We abolished change-of-use applications —
Dr D.J. Honey interjected.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : We abolished
change-of-use applications for a series of small businesses wanting to change
the use of their premises to adapt to the local economic environment. We have
reduced the number of development assessment panels from nine to five, to
improve consistency, governance and transparency. We have also improved and
made more consistent the level of community engagement and discussion.
Of course, members on the other side—or
in the other corner!—opposed it. The person leading the charge, as we
have heard today, was the Leader of the Liberal Party, the member for
Cottesloe. The sky did not fall in, member for Cottesloe! The reforms are
supporting economic recovery. We know that the Leader of the Liberal Party
wants his policies and the planning system to be stuck in the 1960s. Some of
the announcements made recently about the chairs of the Liberal Party's
policy subcommittees to take new ideas to the next election should not surprise
anyone. We have a chair of the planning, transport and infrastructure committee
who, among other things, was a member of the
Liberal government that shut down the Fremantle rail line and who opposes all
density in the suburbs. We have a chair of the law and intergovernmental
committee who has opposed every single COVID measure introduced by this
government —
[Interruption from the gallery.]
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : That was an unexpected contribution
from the gallery—not a supporter of planning reform!
We have a chair who compared the
Premier to the president of Palestine and argued for the borders to come down.
The chair of the foreign affairs and defence subcommittee opposed John Howard's
gun control laws and believed public schools —
Point of Order
Dr D.J.
HONEY : I believe that the minister is well off the topic of planning
laws.
The
SPEAKER : Thanks for your suggestion. I will ask the minister to
bring her answer to a conclusion, but there is no point of order.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Ms
R. SAFFIOTI : The chair of that
committee opposed John Howard's gun control laws and believed public
schools were brainwashing kids into being gay. These are the
representatives of the modern Liberal Party! These are the people entrusted by
the Liberal Party to bring forward new policies to take to the election! They
are stuck in the 1960s, just like the Leader of the Liberal Party in this
chamber.
Of course, today is a momentous day.
Mr W.J. Johnston : Happy
birthday!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Thank you. Of
course that is true, too.
A
year ago, we sat in this chamber debating planning laws until 12 o'clock
at night. We were debating once-in-a-lifetime planning changes to
streamline the system and support the economic recovery from COVID. These
reforms are working. I acknowledge and thank the now Minister for Local
Government for his help in bringing in those planning changes. We created the
new state development assessment pathway. There are 48 projects worth more than
$4 billion currently under discussion. Six projects worth more than $200 million
have already been approved. We have reduced red tape. Now, people undertaking a
minor backyard modification—a cubbyhouse or a pergola—do not
need planning approval. We abolished change-of-use applications —
Dr D.J. Honey interjected.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : We abolished
change-of-use applications for a series of small businesses wanting to change
the use of their premises to adapt to the local economic environment. We have
reduced the number of development assessment panels from nine to five, to
improve consistency, governance and transparency. We have also improved and
made more consistent the level of community engagement and discussion.
Of course, members on the other side—or
in the other corner!—opposed it. The person leading the charge, as we
have heard today, was the Leader of the Liberal Party, the member for
Cottesloe. The sky did not fall in, member for Cottesloe! The reforms are
supporting economic recovery. We know that the Leader of the Liberal Party
wants his policies and the planning system to be stuck in the 1960s. Some of
the announcements made recently about the chairs of the Liberal Party's
policy subcommittees to take new ideas to the next election should not surprise
anyone. We have a chair of the planning, transport and infrastructure committee
who, among other things, was a member of the
Liberal government that shut down the Fremantle rail line and who opposes all
density in the suburbs. We have a chair of the law and intergovernmental
committee who has opposed every single COVID measure introduced by this
government —
[Interruption from the gallery.]
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : That was an unexpected contribution
from the gallery—not a supporter of planning reform!
We have a chair who compared the
Premier to the president of Palestine and argued for the borders to come down.
The chair of the foreign affairs and defence subcommittee opposed John Howard's
gun control laws and believed public schools —
Point of Order
Dr D.J.
HONEY : I believe that the minister is well off the topic of planning
laws.
The
SPEAKER : Thanks for your suggestion. I will ask the minister to
bring her answer to a conclusion, but there is no point of order.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Ms
R. SAFFIOTI : The chair of that
committee opposed John Howard's gun control laws and believed public
schools were brainwashing kids into being gay. These are the
representatives of the modern Liberal Party! These are the people entrusted by
the Liberal Party to bring forward new policies to take to the election! They
are stuck in the 1960s, just like the Leader of the Liberal Party in this
chamber.
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