Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Hansard source

Unfortunately, I have to rise in the House again to condemn the Berejiklian Liberal government's treatment of my constituents. My constituents in Horsley Park and Cecil Park are having their rights as landowners retroactively stripped away by the Berejiklian Liberal government, with not a word of consultation—no more subdivision, no more granny flats for an older relative to move into, no more subdividing for another house to help their children into the housing market. Those residents who live on five-acre blocks often have had plans to subdivide in the future to fund their retirement, and their rights are being stripped away in an act of arrogance by the Berejiklian Liberal government. Those residents have had plans in place, they've had hopes and dreams, and the Berejiklian government simply doesn't care.

The people of Horsley Park have expressed their views very articulately. Take Angelo and Maria Basso, who wrote:

Why are our long-term plans to subdivide and build, or provide a secondary dwelling to accommodate ageing parents or children being taken away from us overnight without sufficient consultation?

or Charles Borg, who wrote:

Many of the blocks of land over 2 hectares are owned by people that have been in the area for many years, one being my Mother (76 years old) who with my late Father (90 years old) have owned the property since 1958.

Their plan was to subdivide as needed to continue to fund their retirement and now this right has been taken away.

Now, with one move, the Premier and the planning minister have made these hopes and aspirations illegal.

I understand the second airport is a huge undertaking, and the people of Horsley Park and Cecil Park understand the need for sensible planning changes to accommodate the airport. But these restrictions are in place now, and they are for a runway that won't be operational until—wait for it—2064! The Berejiklian government is removing rights today because of a runway which will be operational in 2064. And this land is as far from Badgerys Creek airport as Concord is from Kingsford Smith.

Mr Falinski interjecting—

See this speech in context