2020-07-01
Repairing COVID-19 provisions in the Planning and Development Amendment Bill, promoting a green recovery and gearing up for the next state election
By Hon. Tim Clifford, MLC for East Metropolitan
Planning and Development Amendment Bill
Good planning is vital to the liveability, health and enjoyment of our communities, which is why I initially was thrilled when the Planning and Development Amendment Bill was tabled in Parliament in May. This euphoria did not last long.
Though much of the Bill addressed welcomed reforms to the Planning sector, it also contained Special COVID-19 provisions to assist with the economic recovery from the pandemic. These provisions enable swift residential, commercial and state and regional development. They also empower the Planning Minister to direct another government body or person to take actions that would otherwise be unlawful. This drastic overreach is incredibly concerning, and has the potential to facilitate corruption.
However, this corruption risk is far lower than what the original iteration of the Bill presented. Thanks to a series of amendments moved by my colleague the Hon Alison Xamon, these concerns are now somewhat mitigated. The Bill now contains increased transparency measures and due regard for consulted agencies.
I’ll be sure to watch closely as the COVID-19 recovery developments begin to ensure the Bill intention remains true and development is facilitated in the best interest of the Western Australian community.
Climate and a green recovery
The idea of a clean, green recovery with a focus on renewable energy as recovery from COVID-19 is slowly, but surely, gaining traction. And so it should! By investing in this, we can create long-term, sustainable careers that will simultaneously reduce greenhouse gas emissions and kickstart the COVID-19 economic recovery. But despite the resounding benefits of embracing a green recovery, there is a powerful push from business interests and their political and media agents to use the crisis to continue business as usual.
We cannot allow that to happen. If we go back to business as usual, we’ll simply move from one global crisis to the next. Our children and those who are less well off will be locked into years of debt, unemployment and will still inherit a destabilised planet.
A green recovery has been a key feature of the #KeepListeningtoScience campaign my office has been running. This campaign adds The Green voice in calling for legislated net-zero emissions targets ̶ as detailed in our WA Climate Change Act, an immediate stop in new and expanding fossil fuel projects and bold government investment in local manufacturing and sustainable infrastructure. WA has an incredible opportunity here to create new future-proof jobs and opportunities while establishing the foundations of a clean economy ̶ and it’s up to us to ensure that happens!
East Metro re-election campaign
I’m thrilled to announce that in late June we launched our official re-election campaign for East Metro!
Armed with a bold plan for a fair, inclusive future where we tackle the climate, economic and inequality crises we are facing, we are ready to take on the major parties and their powerful corporate donors.
We will be hosting our first campaign event on July 7. The event, streamed via Zoom, will be a great opportunity to hear from our candidates in the key seats of Maylands, Bassendean and Kalamunda. If you’d like to get involved, please contact my office.
Header photo: Tim and Greens supporters during his 2015 election campaign