WILL HODGMAN
After ten long years of neglect and six Planning Ministers, the 2008 Planning Report Card from the Planning Institute of Australia branded Tasmania’s planning system the worst in the country.
The failure by Labor to adequately advance planning reform over many years has denied the State the opportunity to achieve its full potential.
This Bill is a welcome start but the proof will be in the pudding.
Tasmania cannot afford more wasted opportunity from a government that has made an art form of poor decision making and abuse of process.
Tasmania needs a streamlined planning system that will provide greater efficiencies and better planning outcomes.
A single authoritative authority should help that occur.
We certainly cannot afford more abuse of process and political interference that has become another hallmark of this Labor Government.
It is obvious that the Government is still getting its act together on its planning reforms, hence the need to introduce this bill separately.
But Tasmania cannot afford further delays and dithering by this Labor Government when it comes to important and long overdue improvements to our planning system.
W: www.willhodgman.com.au
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GOVERNMENT MOVES TO UNDERMINE INDEPENDENCE OF THE RPDC
And undermine Public Confidence in Tasmania’s Planning System
Nick McKim MP
Greens Leader
Tuesday, 26 May 2009
www.tas.greens.org.au
The Tasmanian Greens today accused the Bartlett Government of undermining the integrity of the Resource Management and Planning System in Tasmania, and the independence of the Resource Planning and Development Commission (RPDC), by proceeding with the RPDC Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2009.
Greens Leader and Planning spokesperson Nick McKim MP said that by merging the Land Use Planning Branch with the state’s peak planning authority Labor will destroy the independence of the RPDC, and undermine public confidence in planning in Tasmania.
“This Bill is a poorly disguised attempt to allow the government to influence planning decisions in Tasmania,” said Mr McKim.
“The RPDC just did not need the kind of radical restructure that this Bill proposes.”
“It is a vengeful Bill, designed to punish the RPDC for attempting to properly assess Gunns’ pulp mill despite political interference by the Labor government.”
“The Bartlett government has clearly learned nothing from the community outrage over the fast-track pulp mill approval, and again intends to politicise Tasmania’s planning system.”
“The Greens believe in good planning decisions made by an independent body, but this Labor government wants quick and dirty decision-making and a disempowered community,” Mr McKim said.
The Greens voted against the Bill in the House of Assembly today.
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