Labor and the Greens still joined at the hip, this time over planning

Today’s protest rally over planning reform is another clear sign that Labor and the Greens are still joined at the hip.

The Government makes no apologies for wanting to make the planning system faster, fairer, simpler and cheaper. Under Labor and the Greens there were 29 different planning schemes and the system was a mess. We took our policy for a single, statewide planning scheme to the election and it was endorsed by the people of Tasmania. It’s now being considered by the independent Tasmanian Planning Commission and any issues should have been raised through that process.

It’s not surprising to see the Greens opposing sensible planning reform, but it was surprising to see the Greens being cheered on by Labor at today’s protest. It’s even more surprising considering that Labor actually voted for these reforms when they were considered by Parliament.

On the weekend, the Premier said that the Hodgman Government would unashamedly continue to govern from the centre, while Labor and the Greens move further and further to the ideological left. Today we saw a classic example of that in action: Labor and the Greens, hand-in-hand, opposing sensible reforms to unlock the State’s potential and encourage investment, development and jobs.

The single statewide planning system has been developed in consultation with the Local Government Association, the Master Builders’ Association, the TFGA, the TCCI, and the HIA as well as 145 stakeholders across the broader community and other experts in the field.

It’s up to Labor now to tell each of these organisations why they are opposed to the planning reforms that these groups have helped design.
Peter Gutwein, Minister for Planning and Local Government