Tuesday, 11 August 2026

 Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (00:06): (2673) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Planning, and the action I seek is for the minister to release all departmental advice that led to changes to the proposed Ormond and Bentleigh activity centre boundaries around McKinnon, including when those changes were recommended and who authorised them. For months residents in McKinnon, Bentleigh and Ormond have rallied against Labor’s egregious plans to impose high-density development across their established neighbourhoods. They organised, they attended meetings, they wrote to the government and they made their opposition very clear. On 2 June I presented a petition to the Parliament bearing 658 signatures specifically calling on the government to reduce the enormous catchment areas and remove streets within the catchment radius of McKinnon station. The final plans have now substantially changed the boundaries around McKinnon. That is a win for a determined local community that refused to be ignored.

But it raises a very simple question for the minister. What changed, given communities right across my electorate have exactly the same concerns? What planning evidence suddenly justified changing these boundaries? Was it new modelling? Was it infrastructure capacity? Was it accessibility and walkability, or did the political calculations simply become too difficult for Labor, or did Nick Staikos intervene? These questions have taken on even greater significance following revelations concerning the planning minister’s own investment property in Hampton. The minister participated in improving the activity centre boundaries despite owning a property just metres away. Her property remained outside the activity centre while properties across the road were included and could face four-storey developments next door. She has since conceded she should have delegated the decision, calling her failure to do so an oversight. I mean, spare me. Really? Honestly, what was she thinking? That is precisely why transparency matters. Tens of thousands of Victorians are going to be subjected to Labor’s activity centres, with no appeal rights and significantly increased development permitted in their neighbourhoods.

David Davis interjected.

Georgie CROZIER: That is exactly right, Mr Davis – high-density high-rise zones. They are entitled to know that boundaries are determined by sound planning principles, not personal circumstances, political pressure or electoral convenience. The McKinnon community should be congratulated for fighting hard and forcing the government to listen. But what about every other community asking the same questions? Why McKinnon? Why these streets? Why now? Minister, release the documents. Show the community what changed, when it changed, who recommended it and the planning justifications for doing so. Because after the minister’s extraordinary ‘oversight’ involving her own property, Victorians, and especially those Victorians in my electorate of Southern Metropolitan Region, should not be expected to simply take her word for it.