[Greens-Media] MEDIA RELEASE: ACT Greens welcome move away from call-in powers

[Jaques, Alison]

MEDIA RELEASE
Shane Rattenbury MLA, ACT Greens Member for Molonglo

20 March 2014

ACT Greens welcome move away from call-in powers

ACT Greens Member for Molonglo, Shane Rattenbury, has welcomed the introduction of a bill that will provide an alternate option to the use of call-in powers for fast-tracking major development projects in the ACT.

"This bill will allow significant development projects of substantial public benefit for the ACT to be fast-tracked through a more transparent and democratic process than through the use of call-in powers," said Mr Rattenbury.

"We know that major projects are much more likely to trigger the use of the Ministerial call-in power, so we are pleased that this new legislation introduces a new level of final decision making through the Legislative Assembly.
"This major project facilitation legislation will allow the Government to identify projects that are important for the city's future, enable the community and key agencies such as the NCA, the Conservator for Flora and Fauna and the Heritage Council to input before ensuring that all Members of the Legislative Assembly play a role in the decision making process.

"The decision to fast-track will instead be made by all Members of the Legislative Assembly, which the ACT Greens have long said is a preferable process to a call-in, which is done by just one minister. Members of the Legislative Assembly will be able to bring to the debate greater representation of community concerns.

"While under this legislation, projects will still go through the normal DA process and be assessed by ACTPLA, however, there will be no capacity to have decisions appealed or reviewed by ACAT.

"In my work on this legislation with Cabinet colleagues, I requested refinements to the criteria for declarations of areas and projects, and am clear that this legislation is only to be used on projects of major public benefit and significance to the ACT.

"I also requested that the call-in power in the proposed new heritage legislation is removed from that bill, as this project specific legislation is a preferable, more transparent and respectful process.

Statement ends



Ali Jaques | Media Adviser to Shane Rattenbury MLA
ACT Greens Member for Molonglo
Minister for Territory and Municipal Services; Corrections; Housing;
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs; and Ageing.

t:  (02) 6205 3897 | m:  0481 035 764| alison.jaques at act.gov.au |

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