Thursday, 30 October 2025

 David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (12:54): (1931) My matter for constituency questions today is to the Minister for Planning, and it relates to the changes to the Planning and Environment Act 1987 that have been proposed in the Assembly. It is a massive bill and a huge rewrite of the Planning and Environment Act that has not been consulted on broadly in the community. Councils have not been consulted, heritage groups have not been consulted and the Parliament, in a broad sense, has not had input into this. The state government in its own grab for power is pushing ahead with an attempt to remove disallowance and to take over control of all planning matters in the state. It is an arrogant and out-of-control state government and a Stalinist-type approach by this government to local planning. But what I seek from the minister is to step back from this approach, to leave the draft Planning and Environment Act proposals as an exposure draft and to lay it over for three months or four months to allow the community, councils and others to look at it.

The PRESIDENT: And they are councils in the area you represent?

David DAVIS: Indeed. I have had representations particularly from heritage groups and councils in my area in Southern Metro.

The PRESIDENT: You do not need to go on. I am very pleased with that.