4 minute read
Shadow Minister
Trust in our planning system
Hon Ryan Smith MP, Victorian Shadow Minister for Planning, Finance and Heritage
The newly appointed Minister for Planning, Lizzie Blandthorn, exemplifies the fractured and underhanded nature of this Government’s attitude towards planning.
Those plans sitting on the previous Minister’s desk, gathering dust – remember those? File them away because the new Minister’s hands are tied on the matter.
Confidence: the feeling or belief that one can have faith in or rely on someone or something.
Example – “we had every confidence in the Government”
Under the new arrangements for the Planning Minister and her staff, major projects requiring ministerial approval will be delayed, or potentially prevented from even beginning. There is a lack of logic and practicality in the government’s approach, and with it, a wavering faith that the planning system in Victoria will ever improve.
The Minister is obligated to exclude herself from any planning decisions that involve her brother’s firm, Hawker Britton. There will be no contact between the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning and Hawker Britton. The alternate Minister and their office will also not have any contact with Hawker Britton.
So who will?
Hawker Britton represents some of Victoria’s largest infrastructure project proponents and advocates. Projects which impact the lives of Victorians and pose major challenges to the planning system as a whole. If we are prevented from relying on the government to make the important decisions, then who can we rely on?
Projects like the West Gate Tunnel, which are already behind schedule and well over budget, will likely be delayed even further given the supposed separation of the Minister and lobbying firm. How can Victorians have confidence in the government to deliver on projects if no one is seemingly allowed to make a decision? How can Victorians have confidence that planning decisions will be made swiftly and competently so as to ensure no further inconvenience is posed? How can we have any confidence at all with an impractical arrangement that will only slow things down?
We can’t.
Probity: the quality of having strong moral principles; honesty and decency.
Example – “Their probity is questionable when conducting business”
Australian Super. The largest Australian superannuation and pension fund is waiting for a ministerial decision regarding its proposal to redevelop Kingswood Golf Club. A controversial project that residents of Melbourne’s south-east strongly oppose. The heated dispute between residents and developer is one of the many projects on the Minister’s conflict-of-interest list. Even if the Minister does not directly decide applications from Hawker Britton’s clients, the staff in her office and her department will be aware when an application involves the boss’ brother.
It is an impossible task to reconcile a popularly elected legislator’s duty with that of a lobby firm. Two opposing entities that represent vastly different interests and moral codes. One is accountable to the people. And that one is charged with the responsibility of serving the Victorian people with transparency and decency. Do not forget that.
How can the Minister demonstrate probity in planning if they are already the subject of such potential large-scale conflict-ofinterest with barely even a day in the role?
Integrity: the state of being whole and undivided or the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles
Example – “It is expected that decisions are made with integrity”
Unfortunately, no planning decision going forward under this government will truly be free of doubt. The integrity concerns raised have been met with a clear lack of governance and leadership which means that projects that require decisions won’t get one.
These blurred lines of morality have been clearly felt throughout the industry. Since Bladthorn’s appointment, a number of those in the planning and construction sector have asked to be removed from Hawker Britton’s list of clients.
Stephen Charles, a member of the Centre for Public Integrity, monumentally understated the situation by describing the appointment of the planning ministry an “unfortunate one”.
The question of integrity remains.
Remember this November
For eight years planning, development and progression have suffered under this government. Resources are stretched. Roads are in need of repair. Population growth and the accompanying infrastructure demands have not been met.
Reflecting on these years, it is important that we can see some hope in our futures, and progress for our state. To do this, we must be able to trust our planning system. Because without confidence, probity and integrity acting as the guiding principles for the government of the day, then our government has truly failed.
What we need is transparency and certainty. What we need is integrity and probity.
Under the current appointment, we have none of these.
STOP PRESS
2022 BOARD ELECTION RESULTS
VPELA would like to congratulate sitting board members Tim McBride-Burgess and Carlo Morello who were successfully returned in our recent election. Warm congratulations to Lucy Eastoe, Arnold Bloch Leibler, Damian Iles, Hansen Partnership, Grant Logan, DELWP and Emily Porter S.C., Victorian Bar, who were also elected and joined the board in October. A full profile of our new members will be included in the March 2023 Revue.
