NSW News Update
NSW Energy Supply
On 1 November 2008, NSW Premier Nathan Rees announced a new strategy for the State’s energy supplies.
The strategy includes:
- Progressing with the sale of the State’s electricity retailers and new generation development sites;
- Leasing the generators’ electricity trading rights;
- Keeping existing generation assets and the “poles and wires” under NSW Government control;
- Protecting consumers through IPART price regulation for households and small businesses until 2013;
- Maintaining the NSW Government’s previous commitments to retail employees about job security and future entitlements.
Under the Government’s outsourcing model, electricity price and trading risk will be transferred to private sector operators, who will pay the State-owned generator a fixed fee to cover the cost of producing the electricity, guaranteeing the State a low risk return on its assets.
For more information, see: www.nsw.gov.au
NSW Planning Reform
On 29 October 2008, NSW Planning Minister Kristina Keneally announced planning reforms to speed up the time taken to rezone and release land for new housing.
The NSW Department of Planning will be restructured, creating savings of $3 million. These funds will be used to hire specialist project managers to manage the rezoning of land for housing, commercial or industrial use and to speed up the processing of development applications for major projects.
Minister Keneally said the project managers will work to shorter deadlines. 85% of major project approvals are to be finalised within three months, 95% to be finalised within five months, and no project assessment to exceed eight months. There will also be an expected overall 50 % reduction in Local Environmental Plans assessment timeframes.
Further planning portfolio reforms include:
- The Department of Planning will take on all planning and land release functions of the Growth Centres Commission, Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority and the Office of Strategic Lands.
- The Redfern-Waterloo Authority will continue operation until 2011-2012, when it will be reviewed for termination or to be incorporated into other agencies.
- Landcom will be retained and continue to operate in its current capacity.
For more information, see: www.nsw.gov.au
Cabinet Reshuffle
Premier Nathan Rees’ decision to stand down Minister Tony Stewart has led to a minor cabinet reshuffle.
Ian Macdonald will act as Minister for Small Business and Jodi McKay will act as Minister for Science and Medical Research and Minister assisting the Minister for Health (Cancer) during the period Minister Stewart is stood aside.
The full ministerial list is as follows:
| Nathan Rees MP | Premier Minister for the Arts |
| Carmel Tebbutt MP | Deputy Premier Minister for Climate Change and the Environment Minister for Commerce |
| John Della Bosca MLC | Minister for Health Minister for the Central Coast Vice President of the Executive Council |
| John Hatzistergos MLC | Attorney General Minister for Justice Minister for Industrial Relations |
| Eric Roozendaal MLC | Treasurer |
| David Campbell MP | Minister for Transport Minister for the Illawarra |
| Verity Firth MP | Minister for Education and Training Minister for Women |
| Kristina Keneally MP | Minister for Planning Minister for Redfern Waterloo |
| Joseph Tripodi MP | Minister for Finance Minister for Infrastructure Minister for Regulatory Reform Minister for Ports and Waterways |
| Ian Macdonald MLC | Minister for Primary Industries Minister for Energy Minister for Mineral Resources Minister for State Development Minister for Small Business |
| Tony Kelly MLC | Minister for Police Minister for Lands Minister for Emergency Services |
| Linda Burney MP | Minister for Community Services |
| Kevin Greene MP | Minister for Gaming and Racing Minister for Sport and Recreation |
| Paul Lynch MP | Minister for Ageing Minister for Disability Services Minister for Aboriginal Affairs |
| Barbara Perry MP | Minister for Local Government Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Mental Health) |
| Graham West MP | Minister for Juvenile Justice Minister for Volunteering Minister for Youth |
| Michael Daley MP | Minister for Roads |
| Phillip Costa MP | Minister for Water Minister for Rural Affairs Minister for Regional Development |
| Virginia Judge MP | Minister for Fair Trading Minister for Citizenship Minister Assisting the Premier on the Arts |
| David Borger MP | Minister for Housing Minister for Western Sydney |
| Jodi McKay MP | Minister for Tourism Minister for the Hunter Minister for Science and Medical Research Minister assisting the Minister for Health (Cancer) |
For more information, contact your Hawker Britton consultant.