Shadow Minister for Planning and Land Management, Peter Cain, will move a motion in the Legislative Assembly this week calling for an independent review of the changes proposed by the planning system review.

Mr Cain said the Planning Bill 2022, draft new Territory Plan and draft district strategies should not be supported in their current form as they have not received a fit and proper independent assessment.

“The proposed planning reforms have produced more concern rather than comfort for Canberrans, who are already highly suspicious of this Labor-Greens government due to their record of poor consultation and inconsideration of community desires,” Mr Cain said.

“The Labor-Greens government’s proposed planning reforms in their current form are invalid. We need an independent expert evaluation to ensure the last five years spent on this planning system review have not been wasted. Especially as it remains unclear what is wrong with the current system.

“The planning system review was instigated by the Planning Minister and the Chief Planner, conducted by the Planning Minister and the Chief Planner and bestowed greater powers to the Planning Minister and the Chief Planner. It is effectively a deregulation of planning.

“Up until this point, it has entirely been the Planning Minister and the Chief Planner’s two-man show.

“To ensure that the ACT’s proposed new planning system has true integrity, it must be thoroughly reviewed by a panel of independent planning and architecture experts.

Mr Cain said the Canberra Liberals believe the planning system needs to be transparent, clearly articulated, and support the future vision of a Canberra that Canberrans want to see.

“These proposed reforms represent the most significant change to the ACT planning system in the last 15 years, so it is vital we get this right,” Mr Cain concluded.