Shadow Minister for Planning and Land Management, Peter Cain, has welcomed the release of the Listening Report into the draft new Territory Plan and draft district strategies and called upon the Planning Minister to adjourn debate on the Planning Bill 2022 to properly consider its findings.

Mr Cain has consistently said the planning system review has failed in its purpose to restore trust and confidence in the ACT planning system and asserts that the Listening Report supports this.

“Throughout this planning system review, community stakeholders have been subjected to flawed consultation processes and ignored time and time again,” Mr Cain said.

“Now, this Labor-Greens government is pushing through this all-important Bill despite the fact the rest of the system is yet to be properly ironed out.

“There is no reason for this to be rushed and the Planning Minister should adjourn debate on the Planning Bill until the findings of this Listening Report can be appropriately considered and implemented in the proposed reforms.

“The overarching areas of feedback that the Listening Report outlines many of the same concerns the Canberra Liberals have been expressing for some time now.

“As evidenced by this Listening Report, Canberrans are ‘concerned for how the ‘outcomes-focussed’ approach will be effective.

“Canberrans feel that the reforms had not met the task of making the planning system easier to understand and engage with.

“Many Canberrans are also worried about ‘the potential loss of open green spaces and the impact on a suburbs’ existing character’ by increasing urban density.

“It’s not too late for the Planning Minister to listen to Canberrans and pull the handbrake on these incomplete and ill-considered planning reforms,” Mr Cain concluded.