DEPUTY LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION
DHERAN YOUNG MLA
GOVERNMENT HELD TO ACCOUNT ON TERRITORY COORDINATOR
Almost three weeks after Labor uncovered a secret CLP plan to hand its Territory Coordinator unchecked powers when it comes to approving new development, the CLP Government has been forced to release its paper to the community for consultation.
Territory Labor remains deeply concerned about these unprecedented powers which would allow Ministers or the Territory Coordinator to undertake project assessments themselves, including environmental, cultural heritage and social benefit assessments – and then approve those assessments without oversight or community consultation.
This plan will potentially allow Ministers or the Territory Coordinator to bend or sidestep laws that provide important safeguards when it comes to project approvals.
It is about time that the CLP did the right thing and gave the community a chance to comment on this plan.
Quotes attributed to Deputy Opposition Leader Dheran Young:
“Lia Finocchiaro promised Territorians she would run an open and accountable government.
“She has now been forced into releasing her Territory Coordinator proposal to the community for consultation, after she got caught out trying to sneak it past Territorians.
“This proposal would see extraordinary powers placed into the hands of one person, completely sidestepping important safeguards when it comes to new developments.
“Territorians did not sign up for this kind of unchecked power.
“They signed up for accountability and transparency from this Government; it’s a disgrace that it took for the secret plan to be uncovered by Territory Labor for her to decide to do the right thing and give Territorians a say.”