Expert Panel on Planning Reform

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton) (14:13): My question is to the Minister for Planning. Minister, can you please inform the house about the work of the Expert Panel on Planning Reform, including today's release of their report 'Our Ideas for Reform'?

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Justice Reform, Minister for Planning, Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Minister for Industrial Relations) (14:13): I thank the honourable member for his question. Today Mr Brian Hayes QC, as chair of the Expert Panel on Planning Reform, along with members of the panel, personally handed to me their second public report entitled 'Our Ideas for Reform'.

This public report has been informed by an extensive community program. In 2013 the expert panel held a range of briefings and workshops for councils and communities across the state from Port Lincoln to Mount Gambier. This community consultation was complemented by briefings and workshops for key interest groups, including the Urban Development Institute of Australia, the Planning Institute of Australia, the Housing Industry Association, the Community Alliance, the Conservation Council, the Adelaide City Council and the Property Council.

The Planning Reform Reference Group, featuring members with a very broad range of interests in the planning system, has also been intimately involved with the panel's work. Throughout their work the independence of the panel has been, and will continue to be, of paramount importance and their schedule of work throughout the state to determine the key issues and questions they have considered is commendable.

This process has produced 27 ideas for reform. I look forward to considering all of their ideas in the coming days and weeks and I invite all members of this place, and the community generally, to engage with the report and provide feedback.

The purpose of the ideas for reform is not to present final recommendations: it is to give us all clear ideas that we can consider and discuss constructively. The expert panel will now undertake yet another engagement process discussing these ideas for reform with communities and key interested people across the state.

I look forward to inviting the panel to provide another briefing to interested members of the parliament when we return in September to provide all members with a further update on this very important work. If anyone is interested, further information about this can be found at thinkdesigndeliver.sa.gov.au.