Back in April, NSW Planning Minister Anthony Roberts delivered a major policy speech at an Urban Taskforce lunch event. In it, he announced a number of big policy changes, including that he was dumping a vital sustainability policy called the Design and Place SEPP.
However, despite the importance of what he announced, the full official transcript of what, exactly, he said has never been released to the public. Until now.
After Mr Roberts decided to shelve the SEPP, The Fifth Estate heard from countless professionals, businesses and peak bodies across the broader building, planning and construction sector who were dismayed at the decision.
In a democracy, it’s important for governments to be transparent with the public about major policy decisions, and how those decisions are made.
However, despite this clear public interest, curiously, the minister never published a transcript of his speech to any government website.
Not on the NSW Liberal website. Not on the NSW Department of Planning and Environment website. Not in an email to his mailing list.
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When The Fifth Estate reached out to the department requesting a copy, the spokesperson said: “Unfortunately, we can’t share the speech with you but please find clarification to your questions below. Let me know if you need anything else.”
Tom [Forrest] understands the complexities of government and is an extremely strong advocate for industry. I thank him for his tireless leadership at the helm of the Urban Taskforce, it’s a difficult job and I don’t envy him.
NSW Planning Minister Anthony Roberts
As The Fifth Estate wrote at the time: “For balance, we’d love to tell you why the minister made the decision he did, in his own words, by publishing his speech. But right now, we can’t.
“Surely, if the minister has consulted extensively with industry and stakeholder groups (as he has claimed) and has set out clear and well thought through reasons for abandoning the policy, there would be no issue in him publishing the speech, right?”
Last week, following a parliamentary motion in the NSW Legislative Council from the Greens, the NSW government was forced to release thousands of pages of internal documents and emails relating to its decision to dump the SEPP.
Those documents revealed that the department did have a full official transcript internally, but its communications director, Korena Flanagan, ordered it not to be released publicly.
The cache of documents also revealed something else – the official transcript of the minister’s speech.
So finally, after many months of waiting and several Government Information Public Access (GIPA) requests from interested parties, here it is.
Here’s what the minister said:
Good afternoon and thank you for having me here today at the Urban Taskforce luncheon.
It is an honour and a privilege to be back in the planning portfolio as Minister, and with the combined responsibility as Minister for Homes. I am certainly looking forward to working with the Urban Taskforce, its members and the industry on delivering homes for the people of this great state of NSW.
You told me that the draft SEPP was too complicated, that it placed too heavy a regulatory burden on building new homes.
There were too many principles and considerations which made your job harder.
I’ve heard you.
NSW Planning Minister Anthony Roberts
I’d first like to acknowledge the CEO of the Urban Taskforce, Tom Forest.
Tom [Forrest] understands the complexities of government and is an extremely strong advocate for industry. I thank him for his tireless leadership at the helm of the Urban Taskforce, it’s a difficult job and I don’t envy him.
Before I outline the Government’s and my visions and policies for the sector, I want to thank each and every one of you for the work you have done and are doing.
The building and construction industry is a powerhouse and a pillar of the State’s economic success.
It is an industry the Government knows it can rely on to deliver jobs, to deliver investment, and to underpin the economy in so many direct and indirect ways.
It’s no mistake the Premier has appointed me not just Minister for Planning, but also Minister for Homes.
Housing supply and affordability is key to this Government’s agenda.
In the past, activating the construction sector has been integral to helping the economy get back on its feet – today is no different.
Its jobs for tradies, small businesses and opportunities for our young people to get an education.
Housing in NSW, indeed across Australia, has become increasingly unaffordable and inaccessible for young people, people in our regions, and people in need.
The median house price in Sydney is $1.6 million and just over $800,000 for units.
Access to the market and housing stress is set to get even tougher.
The Premier outlined this in some detail in the Bradfield Oration at the end of last year.
He made it clear that home ownership is at the top of the government’s priority list.
This is a generational issue fast reaching crisis point, and combining the planning and homes portfolios is a concrete example of how this priority is being addressed.
This government will use every lever at its disposal – including tax, planning, supply, or working with the Commonwealth — to give more people in NSW the opportunity to own their own home.
I do not want to see any policy introduced which results in slowing the planning system down further.
NSW Planning Minister Anthony Roberts
Lifting home ownership is part of this government’s efforts and ambition to help families who are feeling the squeeze.
I want our kids to know that owning a house in NSW is a reality, not just a dream.
But our efforts and our focus is about building more than bricks and mortar — but culture and community too.
I want people across the state to feel safe knowing that no matter your income, there is a home for you in NSW.
We must confront these issues with the policy levers we can control – but we can’t do it alone.
Right now we are looking at options to both support affordable housing, and unlock new supply for our state.
Rates of home ownership in NSW have been falling for some time, particularly among younger demographics.
These declining rates of home ownership reflect increasing housing affordability pressures, which can compound both social and economic disadvantage and impact quality of life.
We’re also delivering new and improved social housing for people in need, and we’re investing in Aboriginal communities to drive better social outcomes and help Close the Gap.
Stable and affordable housing provides people with economic security and helps their physical and mental wellbeing.
That’s why the Perrottet government is exploring innovative solutions to address both declining homeownership and affordability, aimed at:
- increasing supply by cutting assessment timeframes, removing red tape and unlocking new housing through infrastructure investment
- working closely with local governments to incentivise new development and greater flexibility for build to rent
- boosting housing supply and improving housing access in the regions, building on recommendations from the Regional Housing Taskforce; and
- developing new models of funding and financing social and affordable housing, using community housing providers and the private sector; as well as creating a long-term, reliable revenue stream to fund maintenance costs for the State’s ageing social housing infrastructure.
Three key principles will underpin my decision making and policy direction: Probity, Process and Productivity.
Process is very important in the planning system but it’s not the only element.
Probity is central to decision making in the planning sphere.
That is why I am so proud of the system of Independent panels that I established when I last held this portfolio. Local panels, regional panels and the independent planning commission – all overseen by the Land and Environment Court.
So today I can announce that the Government will not be proceeding with the draft Design and Place SEPP.
NSW Planning Minister Anthony Roberts
In terms of productivity – the NSW Productivity Commission made it very clear that the Planning System in NSW had become slow, cumbersome and inefficient. The Department has done a lot of good work to improve the productivity of the NSW Planning system. The work I have seen on reforms to the rezoning process is a case in point.
I do not want to see any policy introduced which results in slowing the planning system down further.
In fact – we want the opposite.
The planning system is very complex and it’s very easy to get caught up in process, rather than outcomes. It’s about getting the balance right between probity, process and productivity and that by its very nature will change the culture of planning supply and delivery.
Achieving the level of new housing supply we need in NSW can’t be done by the government alone.
We need everybody to play their role – government to put the right settings in place to attract investment and industry to get on with the job of building new homes.
I need the ideas and energy of the people in this room and across industry to help achieve our mutual goal – more homes for everyone.
That also means having frank and direct conversations when we’re not on the right track.
I want to thank you for your feedback about the Design and Place SEPP.
You told me that the draft SEPP was too complicated, that it placed too heavy a regulatory burden on building new homes.
There were too many principles and considerations which made your job harder.
I’ve heard you.
I also heard you when you told me that the pace of change to the system was creating uncertainty and making the job of delivering housing harder.
So today I can announce that the Government will not be proceeding with the draft Design and Place SEPP.
I am also announcing today that we will not be making any changes to the current Apartment Design Guide.
You’ve also told me that you’re looking for a single consistent approach to design review and that the increased thresholds were too onerous and time consuming.
I can confirm today that the design review manual will only apply to panels that already exist.
I can also confirm that there is no requirement to present to a panel multiple times. The panel will have the opportunity to provide advice once. If you want to go back, that option will remain open to you – it will be your choice.
Warehousing and Industrial lands are predominantly about functionality.
This is consistent with my final signoff on the Aerotropolis precinct SEPP which removed the requirement for design competitions for all buildings lower than 40 metres (12 storeys), thus effectively exempting industrial and logistics buildings.
We need to optimise land for homes while building communities that are sustainable and resilient.
I want to be clear about one specific aspect of the Design and Place SEPP as exhibited.
The changes to BASIX as agreed in principle by the National Construction Code (2022) will be implemented by the end of this year. There will be an opportunity for industry feedback on the details between now and the final policy change.
But be assured, the government’s commitment to a more sustainable supply of housing which positively contributes to our greenhouse gas emission reduction targets remains paramount to decision making.
So I will separate the BASIX component of the Design and Place SEPP from the rest of the document. This component will be progressed as planned.
There are a number of policies already in place to build resilient communities in the face of impacts of climate change.
These include a direction issued by me to ensure natural hazards are thoroughly considered in decision-making on land-use, the Flood-Prone Land Policy, and the natural hazards toolkit for councils.
I want to make it easier to build quality, affordable homes – not harder. As I’ve said before, I’ll only make changes that help us pave the way for more homes in liveable communities.
We need to optimise land for homes while building communities that are sustainable and resilient.