Ms BURNET question to MINISTER for HOUSING, PLANNING and CONSUMER AFFAIRS, Mr ELLIS
It seems you have learned nothing from your bungling of the fire levy. Your dismissive approach to community concerns has been on full display once again with your proposed planning reforms. You have labelled mayors and the local government sector NIMBYs and alleged self-interest. You have also sledged residents and community groups who are concerned about the local places around Tasmania they want to protect under threat from planning changes they view as wrecking the very foundations of planning in Tasmania. Your comments show contempt for mayors across this state, from Break O’Day, from the coast to Kingborough, and from West Tamar to Hobart, and completely dismiss communities and their concerns and denigrate anyone who does not agree with you and your planning changes. Will you apologise for your arrogance and disrespectful comments?
The SPEAKER – The member’s time for asking the question has expired.
ANSWER
Honourable Speaker, I thank the member for her question. The short answer is no. I can reflect, however, that it is interesting that the Greens, even on the things that they claim to care most about, are still part of the anti-everything brigade. Last night, we had an extraordinary debate where the Greens proposed to block a renewable energy development getting up in regional Tasmania at Circular Head, as well as affecting other investments around the state.
Just on Sunday, Ms Burnet, I was at a development that you blocked when you were on council that is still an empty lot filled with vandalism and graffiti. You know what could be there right now today? Forty homes for Tasmanians, a childcare centre for Tasmanian children, retail precincts for Tasmanian jobs. Who blocked it? You and your council, Ms Burnet, and even worse than that, it was recommended for approval by your expert planning staff because it complied with the planning scheme.
Do you know what is happening now? That decision that you wrongfully made was overturned by the Tasmanian Appeals Tribunal a couple of days ago. It is now going ahead, but it took four years of legal lawfare – a whole bunch of rubbish. There could be people living in there right now, sending their kids there so that they can go to work in the retail precinct.
I am sorry, Ms Burnet, if I have upset your delicate sensibilities, but I can say that this government backs in jobs and backs in housing. The real question here today, Ms Burnet, is not whether you and the anti-everything brigade support jobs and development because, largely speaking, you are irrelevant in these debates. The real question is whether Labor will get off the barbed wire fence?
Members interjecting.
Mr ELLIS – They could tell us now, honourable Speaker, whether they are going to support our Development Assessment Panel Bill. Will they tell us? This is their chance.
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER – All right, the House will come to order.
Mr ELLIS – Just a yes or no, Mr Winter.
The SPEAKER – I am speaking. When I am speaking, we will all be very quiet. I ask members to calm down a little bit in their response and that might make the minister just a little quieter in his oration. We have Hansard people attempting not to go deaf right now.
Mr ELLIS – Thank you, Speaker. I will ask it quietly but clearly. Will Labor support our Development Assessment Panels?
The SPEAKER – You are not allowed to ask questions.
Mr ELLIS – I think their silence, sadly, says volumes about the ticker of those opposite. They will not even tell us about whether they will back in jobs in this state, whether they will back in more houses in this state, whether they will back in the hardworking men and women who are looking to develop and take a risk, have a punt, and build their dreams. Honestly, honourable Deputy Speaker, I think the Tasmanian people – sorry, you are the real Speaker ‑ I think they deserve to know the truth.
The SPEAKER – I am really going to sit you down right now. I remind members that asking rhetorical questions of the opposition and then feigning shock when they do not interject after I ask them not to interject. A supplementary question? I think he answered your question, which was that he would not apologise, but I will hear it.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION
Ms BURNET – The supplementary question was about his display of arrogance and disrespect.
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER – No, you can sit down. The House will come to order. The original question was would you apologise and the minister made it very clear he had no intention of apologising. I think your point about arrogance and disrespect is now on the record, but I will not allow it as a supplementary question.
