Thursday, 4 May 2023

Questions without notice and ministers statements

Ministerial responsibilities

John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:02): My question is to the Minister for Planning. When was the minister advised of the Deputy Premier’s new secret portfolio of minister for precincts and land coordination, which will remove powers from the minister’s portfolio?

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: The member for Eltham is warned. The Assistant Treasurer is warned.

Sonya KILKENNY (Carrum – Minister for Planning, Minister for Outdoor Recreation) (14:02): I thank the member for his question. This is the difference between this side and that side, isn’t it. On this side we actually work together. Our focus is actually delivering for Victorians – how do we improve the lives of Victorians? What is it that we need to focus on in making the lives of all Victorians better? How do we support them? How do we support them in getting the housing and the housing choice that they need – affordability of housing? How do we support them to get the jobs that they need, to choose where they live, close to services?

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for South Barwon is warned.

James Newbury: On a point of order, Speaker, under standing order 58 on relevance, the minister was asked when she was stripped of her portfolio responsibilities. I ask you to refer the minister back to that important question.

The SPEAKER: The minister was being relevant to the question that was asked. The Minister for Planning to continue, without assistance from the house.

Sonya KILKENNY: Thank you, Speaker. As I was saying, on this side of the house we are focused – and I am very focused as the Minister for Planning, as the title suggests – on planning for the future of Victorians. It is about planning the homes for future Victorians. It is about planning where those jobs are, where industrial land will be, preserving and protecting our green wedges, growing Victoria, growing the homes –

Peter Walsh interjected.

The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Nationals is warned.

Sonya KILKENNY: making sure that we are working together, that we are coordinated in delivering all of that and that we are leveraging off the extraordinary investments this government has made in infrastructure across our Big Build, across the Suburban Rail Loop and our level crossing removals. We are working together on this side, and as Minister for Planning I am absolutely focused on delivering for Victorians across this state.

John PESUTTO (Hawthorn – Leader of the Opposition) (14:05): Why is the minister allowing this new portfolio to remove third-party rights from communities on local planning and development decisions?

Sonya KILKENNY (Carrum – Minister for Planning, Minister for Outdoor Recreation) (14:05): I thank the member for his supplementary question. As I have said, my focus is on delivering for Victorians. It is about delivering a planning system that works for all Victorians, as we build more homes for Victorians, as we look to the future and ensure that people have choice about where they live, that homes are affordable, that people can age in place and that they can live close to family and friends.

Peter Walsh: On a point of order on the issue of relevance, Speaker, the question was very clearly about why the minister was allowing communities to lose any say in planning decisions. If the minister is so dedicated to the job, why is she vacating the space for the Premier-in-waiting?

The SPEAKER: Order! That is not a point of order.

Sonya KILKENNY: I actually reject the premise of this question. No decisions have been made to take away third-party rights at VCAT. As I have said, my focus as the Minister for Planning is on delivering a planning system that works for all Victorians as we look to the future to ensure –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Deputy Premier will come to order. I am having trouble hearing the Minister for Planning.

Sonya KILKENNY: As I said, no – (Time expired)