Planning Reform

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (15:16): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the minister representing the Minister for Planning a question about planning and urban development in South Australia.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD: The government has announced sweeping planning reforms to 'cut the complexity', as it says, to the planning system to make it easier for home owners and businesses to secure planning approval. Family First is broadly supportive of this approach, but some of the detail remains a little murky. The minister has promised this new framework will provide for 'long-term planning built on accountability', and that 'community engagement at the very start of planning decisions will be required'.

Announced changes thus far include a legislated growth boundary around Adelaide preventing development on the Adelaide fringe, a tax on households in new developments, and the implementation of an environmental and food protection area that can only be developed with parliamentary approval. Some of these positions cause us great alarm. It has been reported that the development industry is likely to rally against a legislated growth boundary in particular, as they would argue it will most likely stifle the economy and increase house prices. Indeed, that would also be our position. My questions to the minister are:

1. When will more detail of these proposals be available to the parliament? I understand the minister is introducing a bill today; when would a briefing be available?

2. What exactly will be the growth boundary, and when will it be announced? Where will it be?

3. Will the government commit to genuine community engagement on this issue, whereby they listen to and decide the matter based on the greater community views, as opposed to hearing concerns and complaints and forging ahead regardless?

4. Will the government commit to sharing with the parliament the consultation, the expert reports and opinions given which shaped this policy, both now and in the future?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (15:18): I thank the member for this most important question. I will take those specific questions on notice and give them to the Minister for Planning in another place and bring back a response. Just in terms of the overall policy, this government is very proud to have announced its reform package. The Deputy Premier (Hon. John Rau) announced the planning reform package today, which is a key component of our strategy to help us grow our economy and provide the best place to do business.

The Hon. John Rau gave notice of his intention to introduce a bill that will substantially rewrite the Development Act. Over the past three years, a series of targeted reforms have clearly demonstrated the way planning reform can provide stimulus to our economy. He recognised that the reform needs to be delivered in partnership with the Adelaide City Council, particularly in relation to our Coordinator-General package that involves case management. I think we have been able to demonstrate significant capacity to support the development sector and improve design outcomes around housing choices. Of course, now it is time to build further on those things and to deliver major planning reform.

While we have a planning system with a number of policy levers in place to enable economic growth, these have increasingly become inadequate. There is always the capacity to improve the way we do things, particularly in relation to planning. The government believes that our planning system must be the most competitive in the nation if we are going to attract investment and ongoing jobs growth and industry growth in South Australia. The Deputy Premier and planning minister announced a reform package to help us unlock the potential to drive that economic growth.

The package will support the development of more active, healthy and vibrant neighbourhoods through the promotion of high-quality design solutions, a better mix of housing options, unlock growth potential by offering flexible options to fund infrastructure and reduce purchase price. With more than 23,000 pages of regulation in our system—23,000 pages currently—it is obviously not going to be a surprise to anyone that over 90 per cent of the development applications are forced to go through an incredibly onerous and lengthy assessment process. That is why two years ago we launched a review and—

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: Mr President, it's publicly available; it's a press release that has been issued and distributed.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Why is he asking the question then? He obviously has failed to take notice of the information.

The PRESIDENT: Minister, I will answer that. I think you will find that the minister is answering the question and I don't think she really needs a lot of assistance from you.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: No, thank you.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Well, you will hear it twice then, won't you?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Obviously the honourable member has not been able to do so and, given that it is information that actually answers the question, I will press on. The new reform package obviously will seek to streamline those processes and make it simpler and quicker for people to process their applications. We believe that these reforms will be welcomed by ordinary householders who clearly want certainty, and they want to be able to implement changes quickly and cost effectively.

Our work aims to ensure that Adelaide will continue to build on its standing as one of the world's greatest cities in which to live—one of the most liveable cities in Australia, and we recently had that awarded to us yet again. These sorts of planning reforms will help us to remain one of Australia's and one of the world's most liveable cities.