Patrick Secker (Barker, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories, I have pleasure in presenting the committee’s report entitled The way forward: inquiry into the role of the National Capital Authority, together with the minutes of proceedings.

Ordered that the report be made a parliamentary paper.

The committee, through this inquiry, has examined the current planning arrangements with a view to reducing red tape and confusing duplication but at the same time ensuring that the Commonwealth has a direct and enduring role in the future planning of Canberra, the nation’s capital. The committee focused on the administration of the National Capital Plan, the governance arrangements of the National Capital Authority, the level of oversight required to maintain the highest standards of design in the Australian Capital Territory, opportunities for greater cooperation with ACT government planning authorities, and the promotion of the national capital.

The committee believes that the National Capital Authority should continue to exist but is in need of structural renewal. The committee has proposed that the governance arrangements be changed to give more independence to the National Capital Authority board commensurate with its status as a statutory authority. Persons appointed to the board should have qualifications or expertise relevant to a field related to the National Capital Authority’s functions. Transparency and accountability to the parliament would be enhanced through the chairperson of the board appearing twice a year at public hearings before this committee.

The most important feature of the report is the future planning framework. The principles and policies that define the Commonwealth’s interest in the national capital can be enhanced by their inclusion in the Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act. The National Capital Plan is in need of updating to respond to the modern challenges of climate change and ecological sustainability as well as providing for more effective consideration of future transport needs. In this way, the Commonwealth continues to set the framework for future planning.

The committee recommends the development of a single integrated planning document which comprises the National Capital Plan and the Territory Plan, with agreed definitions and clear geographic boundaries between the two plans. Where possible, these boundaries should be based on the objective that land administration be aligned with planning jurisdiction. In this way, proponents, stakeholders and the community would deal with just one planning authority.

There was a great deal of goodwill expressed by both the National Capital Authority and the ACT government to achieve such an alignment of the respective plans, as contained in their submissions. However, it became clear that there were many important details to be ironed out. Many witnesses and submitters to the inquiry were not able to express a view or contribute to the discussion about the proposals because the inquiry represented the first public exposure of the ideas.

The committee recommends a working group comprising the National Capital Authority and the ACT Planning and Land Authority, or ACTPLA, should prepare detailed proposals of an integrated, cooperative approach which would be considered as part of a broader package of updating the National Capital Plan and any legislative amendment. It is envisaged that this process could take around 18 months.

The committee, therefore, has proposed that, as an interim measure, in order to resolve planning duplication the Commonwealth consider amendments to the Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act to permit the National Capital Authority and ACTPLA to negotiate a memorandum of understanding to delegate the planning jurisdiction for territory land which has designated status.

The National Capital Authority and ACTPLA will also have the opportunity to receive advice on a range of planning matters through the creation of the National Capital Consultative Council, or NCCC. The NCCC would consist of representatives from the Commonwealth and ACT governments, the community and business and be co-chaired by the responsible Commonwealth minister and the ACT Chief Minister.

In conclusion, and on behalf of the committee, I thank all groups, organisations and individuals who contributed to this inquiry. The interest in, passion for and commitment to their national capital by so many Australians was inspiring and uplifting throughout the course of the inquiry.

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