Liberal Member for Prosser, Jane Howlett, has slammed the Labor opposition for opposing our planning reforms that will fix Tasmania’s affordable housing needs, by reducing unnecessary delays.
“Rebecca White is shifting so far to the left she has landed on the doorstep of the anti-development Greens,” Ms Howlett said.
“Labor claims to support more housing in Tasmania, but their actions yesterday speak louder than words.
“We know that the Greens will always oppose anything, but Tasmanians expect a credible opposition from the Labor Party – one that supports good ideas when it will make a positive difference in the lives of Tasmanians.
“Even former Labor Attorney-General, Brian Wightman, is on the record agreeing that this is the right decision.*
“Will Rebecca White and Labor try to do another deal with the Greens to stop development in Tasmania? Will they stop the creation of more houses for Tasmanians in need? Will they stop the creation of hundreds of construction jobs?
“The evidence is clear – only the Rockliff Liberal Government will take real action to get more homes built sooner.”
*”The Property Council’s Brian Wightman believes complex planning decisions should be taken out of the hands of councils all together — and given to an independent development assessment panel.
“For councils and aldermen to perform the roles of a statutory planning authority, but also to be expected to represent the views of their community, is just untenable,” he said.
“It would be a far better process to remove that from the remit of councils and place it in the hands of experts,” he said.
“Right across Australia, development assessment panels are used to assess and make decisions on complex matters and take it out of the hands of councils.”
“Developers in Tasmania set aside three to four years to get a proposal from the drawing board to shovel ready and the first sod turned.”
“That is far too long when we’re facing pressures in the housing industry and facing pressures in accommodation for the tourism industry.”
[ABC NEWS, 22 January, 2020]
