Projects bill set to be ratified
THE controversial Major Projects Bill looks set to become law after Labor was unable to pass a key amendment in the Legislative Council.
Planning Minister Roger Jaesnch this week said the state government would vote against its own legislation if it returned from the upper house with substantial changes.
The Labor Party wanted changes to stop political donors taking advantage of the laws to fast-track their development proposals and to add appeal rights over decisions.
A key vote on the first substantial amendment was defeated after debate in the upper house on Thursday afternoon.
Debate was adjourned late in the night.
The law will apply to projects that are of high value, considered complex or identified as being of major significance by taking decisions out of the hands of local councils and giving the power of approval to an expert panel.
The reforms have been condemned by a coalition of environment and planning groups on the grounds that they could potentially fast-track in sensitive areas.
Labor leader Rebecca White said the outcome was a shame. “Labor’s amendments to require donations made by developers to be disclosed as part of the Major Projects legislation has been defeated by the government in the upper house,” she said.
“It’s very disappointing that we’re not going to see that provision included in the bill.
“The government made no action to progress donation reform in this state so we don’t know who’s donating to political parties and in some cases, we will never know, because of the lack of lack of donation disclosure laws.”
Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said the law was open to abuse. “It’s a worrying sign when you can’t have constraints on developer donations put into a very significant piece of legislation that opens the doors for very large developers. We should have had protections in there to make sure developers can’t swan into the minister’s office after making a political donation in the lead-up to an election and expect favourable treatment.” projects