The Property Council of Australia is disappointed at the Australian Labor Party’s (ALP) decision to package its planning reform policy in rhetoric that is derogatory towards Queensland’s economic engine room – the property sector.
Wrapping a policy in language based on a 30 year old stereotype of the property industry is as woefully out of touch as portraying an Australian male as Crocodile Dundee, Queensland Executive Director of the Property Council of Australia Kathy Mac Dermott says.
“Let’s look at the facts in 2012; the property industry is the state’s largest direct employer and the largest private sector contributor to Queensland’s economy.”
“The property industry directly employs over 280,000 Queenslanders, pays $3.6 billion in state taxes and generates $30.9 billion or 12.6% of Queensland’s Gross State Product.”
“The property industry is Queensland’s engine room, and as such deserves recognition for the role it plays in providing jobs, paying taxes and building the communities in which we live. We need sound policy to rebuild the state’s competitiveness, housing affordability and investment appeal.”
“The stereotyping of members of the property industry is particularly disappointing as it masks the announcement of some new policy initiatives today by the ALP which have long been advocated by the industry.”
“In particular the trial of Planning Advisory Panels is a step in the right direction. Queensland needs to catch up to best practice states like Western Australia and introduce Independent Development Assessment (DA) Panels. The Property Council has consistently advocated for DA Panels.”
“The Property Council has also long called for a structured approach to drive innovations successfully trialled by the Urban Land Development Authority (ULDA) back into the mainstream planning and development assessment system.”
“The reality is that Queensland’s planning system is underperforming – we are uncompetitive with other states. We need our leaders to genuinely focus on making our system the best in the country.”
“On Wednesday (14 March) the Property Council and Residential Development Council will release their 2012 Development Assessment Forum (DAF) Report Card, which identifies the progress of each state’s DA system against the 10 DAF Principles.”
“It is this research-based evidence which should be driving the reform of the planning system in Queensland, rather than attempts to reinforce the stereotypes of a bygone era.”
