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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2010-05-06 Daily Xml
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DEVELOPMENT PLANS

Mr WILLIAMS (MacKillop—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (17:05): My question is to the Minister for Housing. Can the minister explain why regulations designed to fast track development approvals for projects under the commonwealth economic stimulus plan are being used to override established development plans and provide approval for developments which would otherwise be regarded as inappropriate?

I have been contacted by a member of the Naracoorte Lucindale District Council and local ratepayers expressing concerns that the South Australian Housing Trust is proposing to build multiple dwellings on sites on which such developments would not be approved under the local development plan and normal planning processes.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON (Elder—Minister for Transport, Minister for Infrastructure, Minister for Energy) (17:05): I am not quite sure where the deputy leader—I congratulate him on that elevation, and it is quite extraordinary with the number of votes he had that he got there.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: He was the little train that could!

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: I would like to, but your friend keeps interjecting. I assume he is your friend—you never know on that side.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister, continue.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: I think it is hilarious, Madam Speaker, to get a whole range of interjections from the opposition about how we are not friends on this side. It is like Colonel Sanders demanding rights for chickens! I don't know where the deputy leader has been. The stimulus program was precisely that: it was a stimulus program. It was intended to put money on the ground as quickly as possible, and it worked. I have some breaking news: it actually worked. Australia and South Australia's economic performance has been outstanding by world standards.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: I know that their disappointment burns in them. Part of that was to shorten the process of approvals on stimulus projects, which has worked very successfully. It does not mean they apply different standards; they simply shorten—

Mr Williams: They are. Answer my question: why are they?

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: I have explained why that has been taken. It is strange that it has worked. The member for MacKillop does not agree with it. I cannot help him with that disagreement.

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