BURNSIDE COUNCIL DEVELOPMENT ASSESSMENT PANEL

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (14:50): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: Yesterday, I provided a preliminary response to the Hon. David Winderlich, who asked questions about female representation on the Burnside Council development assessment panel.

I can confirm that the issue of female representation on the Burnside DAP was raised with me in correspondence from a member of council in March and April 2009. I sought departmental advice on the matter and had a letter prepared reminding Burnside council of the provisions under section 56A(3)(d)(ii) of the Development Act 1993.

As members would be aware, my colleague the Minister for State/Local Government Relations launched an independent investigation into the City of Burnside on 22 July 2009, following departmental inquiries. As a result of the investigation process, the decision was made to not respond to the council at that stage but to refer correspondence in this matter to the independent investigator, Mr Ken MacPherson.

However, members should be reminded that the powers of the Minister for Urban Development and Planning to veto the appointment of independent members to council DAPs, which were contained in the government's amendments to the Development Act, were defeated in the Legislative Council.