Page 4196 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 23 October 1991
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It was ironic that this morning, Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, you introduced a private member's Bill to patch up that fault in the Interim Planning Bill which the Alliance Government had introduced. You sought to bring the current legislation, the temporary interim planning legislation, the Alliance legislation, up to scratch, to the model that has been set by the Labor Government in both the Subordinate Laws Act and its unsuccessful amendment last year to the planning Act. When you were the Executive Deputy with responsibility, you were not supportive of Labor's views; but now you have moved to bring it up to the standards set by the Labor Government, and that is a good thing.
Further reinforcing the essential role of the Assembly in the planning process, no plan variation approved by the Executive will come into effect until after it has passed through the Assembly. Members should note that these provisions mean that the ACT Legislative Assembly, and every individual member of it, has a far greater role and power in respect of planning matters than any other Australian State or Commonwealth jurisdiction. That will go a long way to avoiding community concerns that the community interest is not being adequately protected.
Underpinning the role of the Executive and the Assembly are the extensive opportunities provided throughout the legislation for effective participation by the community. With this legislation, the Government has emphasised openness of process. Notably, the steps required for consultation on variations to the Territory Plan are clearly set out in the legislation, and all comments received are open to public scrutiny. The Executive has the power to issue not only general policy directions to the Planning Authority but also specific directions on particular variations.
All background papers relating to consultation on specific plan variations, including any Executive directions, must be tabled in the Assembly. Preliminary environmental assessments must be made available for public scrutiny - this does not happen in other jurisdictions - and public environment reports and environmental impact statements must be prepared in consultation with the community.
The identification and conservation of the ACT's heritage will also be carried out in close consultation with the community, and the Assembly again will be the final arbiter in this important and sensitive area. On an issue of such fundamental community concern as heritage, which members of the Canberra community value highly - being a relatively young city, a relatively new city, we value enormously those old buildings and heritage items that we do have - this legislation not only ensures that they are protected but also ensures that the community has a say in their protection and ensures that the community can have their say in protecting what is best in this Canberra community.
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