Tuesday, 17 October 2023

Ministers statements: planning policy

Sonya KILKENNY (Carrum – Minister for Planning, Minister for the Suburbs) (15:03): I am delighted to update the house on the delivery of the Allan Labor government’s big, bold agenda for planning reform announced in last month’s housing statement. We are getting on with the job of making good decisions faster, and a key component of this work is increasing housing choice in activity centres, because when you locate more homes in activity centres, everybody wins. More people can live close to jobs and transport, and more people living in activity centres means more enlivened and thriving neighbourhoods, more opportunities for local businesses to grow and a better quality of life for all residents. The activity centre program will deliver more than 60,000 homes across 10 activity centres, with new harmonised planning controls in each centre.

Since last month’s housing statement I have already met with nine councils and the Municipal Association of Victoria. Speaker, do you know what they are saying? These councils are excited and enthusiastic to partner with us to deliver more homes and more housing choice, making good decisions faster in their activity centres. Over the coming months I will be having even more conversations with councils and communities. I will be asking communities what they love about their neighbourhoods and how best they can meet future local needs, because whilst I am the Minister for Planning, I am also Minister for the Suburbs.

The suburbs are the places we live, the places we work and shop and play sport and socialise and walk the dog, the places we love, the places we call home. As Minister for the Suburbs my focus will be working across government to deliver thriving, connected suburbs and communities for all Victorians. This work will be about sharing the places we love, with all of us working together to make these places the best they can be. We are long past the point of asking ‘Do we grow?’; this is all about how we can grow best. And those opposite might take heed – it is time to grow up. The Allan Labor government has a plan to deliver 800,000 homes.

The SPEAKER: Can I acknowledge in the gallery former minister the Honourable John Pandazopoulos.

Sam Groth: On a point of order, Speaker, I have a number of unanswered questions. Constituency question 214 for the Minister for Housing was due in July, constituency question 234 for the Premier was due on 31 August, adjournment 255 for the Premier was due on 31 August and constituency question number 314 for the Minister for Environment was due on 30 September.

Bridget Vallence: On a point of order, Speaker, I have a number of matters that have been unanswered. Adjournment 299 on the local history grants was asked on 16 August to the then Premier and nearly five weeks later is still not answered. Constituency question 312 on a very important issue, elder abuse, has failed to be answered by the Minister for Ageing. That was asked on 31 August, and I would appreciate answers for my constituents.