Is NSW returning to a corruption state? – FOKE – Friends of Kuringai Environment

In March 2024 FOKE’s submission to the Inquiry into Development of the Transport Oriented Development (TOD) Program was made ‘partially confidential’. Why?

Because FOKE dared suggesting that the NSW Government’s planning reforms risked NSW returning to ‘a corruption state’.

Now journalist Michael Sainsbury has published the article Back to Obeid? Fast-track housing laws a stalking house for fast-track mines. He, asks whether NSW could return to the Obeid days with the new fast-track planning laws for ‘housing’ and which give the NSW Planning Minister unprecedented approval powers.

Despite the Minns Government consulting with ICAC (Independent Commission Against Corruption) it seems that they are silent at this stage. The new planning laws will concentrate power in the Planning Minister (Mr Paul Scully) and the Secretary of the NSW Planning Department (Ms Kiersten Fishburn).

Many remember how this was when the last Labor Planning Minister Ian Macdonald used similar powers through the then known controversial Part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act. When the Liberals were elected in 2011 one of the first things they did was overturn the controversial Part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act.

The new Planning System Reform Bill (2025) appears to fast-track all development for approval.

Sue Higginson, Greens MLC has expressed strong concern that the planning reforms, despite the claim they are there to address the housing affordability, will have huge ramifications of the entire NSW planning system – particularly with mining proposals.

Few would guess the changes to the planning act have their origin in unlocking mining approvals and not housing, which Minns and Scully spruke.

The justification to modernise the NSW planning system is now an excuse to fast tracking development and abandon environmental protection.

The Bill proposes to enshrine into Legislation the controversial Housing Delivery Authority, the Investment Delivery Authority and the Development Co-ordination Authority.

ICAC legislation encourages the Government to consult with them when introducing new laws but the government can chose not to take ICAC’s advice.

The new laws have kept the public in the dark. Ther has been no parliamentary or public consultation with communities. The Liberal Party has expressed support for the Bill.

It is believed that the motivation for the new legislation has arisen because a new mine was rejected by the NSW Court of Appeal.

It is also understood that Silver Mines Limited has had seemingly unfettered access to the NSW Government and who receive strong support of Ministers to get their project back on track.

The CEO of Silver Mines, Jo Battershill, in an address to the Beaver Creek Precious Metals summit, has said publicly that ‘Silver Mines has the full support of the NSW Government’.

The Sydney Retired Unionists Group are deeply concerned about the systemic problem of powerful vested interests capturing government. Is this what is happening now with the NSW Planning laws?