NSW Greens MPs are supporting a call for a parliamentary inquiry into Frank Sartor’s new planning Bill, describing the Bill as having potentially devastating consequences for the state’s environment and heritage and being an open invitation for corruption of the planning system.

“This Bill will affect billions of dollars of developments. It will affect the rights and the amenity of every citizen in this state,”
said Greens MP and planning spokesperson Sylvia Hale.

The government today refused a Greens motion to release the submissions that had been received about the planning changes.

Ms Hale referred to a report of the cross-party Legislative Review Committee that raised significant concerns with the planning Bill including that it would trespass on individual rights to have views heard and represented, procedural fairness, access to justice and may erode the rule of law and individual property rights. (more…)

It was a bad day for the planning system in state parliament as Minister Sartor introduced new pro-developer laws into the Lower House at the same time as the major parties combined in the Upper House to bury a Greens Bill banning political donations from property developers.

“Once again the Labor Party has shown that it is addicted to donations from property developers and that it will repay those donations with pro-developer laws,” said Sylvia Hale, the NSW Greens MP and planning spokesperson. (more…)

NSW Greens MP Sylvia Hale has called in parliament for the new Council administrators or the ICAC to investigate a range of controversial Wollongong Council planning decisions in light of the corrupt conduct involving the Council uncovered by the ICAC.

Ms Hale has singled out two projects by the developer Jempak as well as the Platinum development in Crown Street and the City Beach Function Centre as requiring investigation.

Ms Hale was particularly critical of former Wollongong Council General Manager Rod Oxley’s role in a number of developments and raised questions about the relationship between former mayor Alex Darling and developer Ken Tugrul.

Ms Hale questioned the legality of the Council’s agreement to pay the costs of former general manager Rod Oxley’s legal representation at the ICAC hearings. (more…)

“In the wake of the developer donations scandal surrounding the Government, this is most definitely not the time to be lowering standards of accountability and transparency,” said Upper House Greens MP Ian Cohen.

Questions were put to Ian Macdonald in Parliament about whether or not he would take action, if it emerged that a member of his expert committee advising him on GM issues had failed to declare a direct or indirect pecuniary interest.

“Minister Macdonald twice dodged my questions yesterday and today on conflict of interest at a time when debate rages in the community about exactly who will benefit from the legalisation of GM food crops in NSW. (more…)

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon is calling on Planning Minister Frank Sartor to rescind his decision to rezone Tralee land to residential and give donations made to the NSW ALP by the developer, Village Building Company, to charity.

“Mr Sartor is dodging a broadening donations scandal by arguing he rezoned land for the Tralee development because of housing shortages,” Ms Rhiannon said.

“Minister Sartor’s own expert panel found in 2006 that there are ‘alternative areas for residential development’ not so adversely affected by significant aircraft noise. (more…)

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon has called on Planning Minister Frank Sartor to stand aside while an independent investigation is carried out into his involvement in soliciting developers to attend his own fundraiser that raised more than $500,000.

“Premier Morris Iemma needs to take action. For a planning minister to hold a function for developers opens the government up to perceptions of bribes and corruption,” Ms Rhiannon said.

“Mr Sartor should stand aside from his portfolio responsibilities while an independent investigation is carried out. (more…)

Greens NSW MP Lee Rhiannon has called for an inquiry to establish if there was any link between Cabcharge participation in Labor Party fundraisers and the continuing monopoly control this company has over the taxi industry.

“The Greens political donations project, Democracy4sale, has revealed that Cabcharge representatives engaged in a flurry of lobbying at Labor Party fundraising events prior to the 2007 state election,” Ms Rhiannon said.

“Cabcharge representatives attended a number of fund raisers where they would have had direct contact with Premier Morris Iemma and his Ministers.

“We don’t know if these Cabcharge activities coincided with a NSW government decision that ultimately benefited Cabcharge. But we do know that Cabcharge gave at least $32,000 at these events and gifts in kind to the Premier, as well as another $5,000 in direct donations. (more…)

Greens MP and health spokesperson Lee Rhiannon is seeking to amend new liquor laws, due for debate in the NSW Upper House today. The amendments will limit small bars to 120 people, restrict the number of small bar licences someone can hold to ten and have the NSW Ombudsman review the impact of the new laws.

“The Greens’ amendments finesse the new laws to make sure NSW gets genuine small bars, not a scheme that fosters the unchecked proliferation of liquor outlets,” Ms Rhiannon said. (more…)

(councillor column for November 22 edition of Bungendore Bulletin; shorter version sent to local papers in Eden-Monaro and the Canberra Times)

The election is only days away and like most campaigns before it, this one has been dominated by the major parties, as if there were only two voting options. It would be good if we could release ourselves from the ALP/Coalition stronghold and let them know that their policies are not good enough for a just and environmentally sustainable future. Every time there’s an election, The Greens are vilified by one group or another, including the major parties. (more…)

NSW Greens MP and planning spokesperson, Sylvia Hale, today welcomed the call by developer lobby group the NSW Urban Taskforce for local councils to keep their planning powers.

The latest position from the developer lobby group contrasts with its previous call, in a 17 July 2007 media release, for the government to strip a Sydney council of its planning powers for alleged delays in approving developments.

“I am pleased by today’s report in the Sydney Morning Herald that the Urban Taskforce does not support the South Australian model which involves council-appointed panels to determine development applications,” said Ms Hale. (more…)