Page 151 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 10 February 2016
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MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Smyth.
MR SMYTH: Minister, why are you increasingly using planning call-in powers instead of allowing development applications to take their usual and proper course?
MR GENTLEMAN: I have not exceeded my use of call-in powers. It has stayed on about—
Mr Coe interjecting—
MR GENTLEMAN: It has stayed on about the average—
Mr Coe interjecting—
MR GENTLEMAN: I keep getting interrupted, Madam Speaker.
MADAM SPEAKER: I am sorry. That does not mean you sit down in the middle of answering a question. You were supposed to be answering a question.
MR GENTLEMAN: Yes, I am trying but I keep getting interrupted, Madam Speaker.
Opposition members interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Order!
Mr Corbell: Madam Speaker, I raise a point of order.
MADAM SPEAKER: Order! There is a point of order. Can we stop the clock, please.
Mr Corbell: Madam Speaker, the opposition continue to interject on the minister. Whilst I appreciate that it is your view that the proceedings of this place are robust, particularly during question time, I think the minister is indicating to you that he is having difficulty answering the question because of the level of interjections opposite.
MADAM SPEAKER: Order, members. The minister for planning has the floor to answer the question about call-in powers.
MR GENTLEMAN: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Yes, I have not increased the use of call-in powers. They remain the same in the statute—
Mr Coe interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Order, Mr Coe!
MR GENTLEMAN: Yes, I have not increased the use of call-in powers. They remain the same in the statute. It has worked out in my time as planning minister of about one call in per year. If you were to look at the historic use of call-in powers, it remains on about that average. I am not trying to keep an average. However, I can say that in previous times, under other ministers, there was a much greater use of call-in powers when the Liberals were in power.
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