Question – Project of State Significance Guidelines

Question without Notice asked by the Hon Meg Webb MLC on 22 May 2023, and answered by the the Hon. Jeremy Rockliff MP, Premier on 31  May 2023. 

QUESTIONS:

Section 17 of the State Policies and Projects Act 1993 (the Act) provides for the Minister to publish guidelines setting out the development approval process for projects of State significance (PoSS), including their publication in the Gazette. Can the government:

1. Confirm whether there are any current PoSS guidelines published in accordance with section 17 of the Act;
2. If there are any current guidelines in existence, when were they published in the Gazette?
3. When were they laid on the table of both Houses of Parliament as required under section 17 (3) of the Act; and
4. If there are not any current PoSS guidelines available as stipulated by section 17 of the Act, when does the government expect they will be developed and published in accordance with the Act?

ANSWERS:

1. There are no current PoSS guidelines published in accordance with section 17 of the Act.
2. N/A
3. N/A
4. Under section 17(1) of the Act the Minister ‘may’ publish guidelines setting out the development approval process for projects of State significance. The Government is of the view that the provisions of the Act, which was amended in December 1998 to include more detail in relation to process, provide the Commission with sufficient guidance in relation to undertaking an integrated assessment of a project of State significance. Should further guidance be required in relation to the assessment of a specific project then this would be provided in the direction given by the Minister to the Commission under section 20(1).

See more of Meg’s Questions to Parliament.