House debates

Wednesday, 9 December 2020

Statements by Members

Petition: Horsley Park SEPP

1:51 pm

Photo of Chris BowenChris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health) Share this | | Hansard source

Every one of these signatures represents the views of the people of Horsley Park and Cecil Park against the degradation of their rights by the Berejiklian Liberal government in New South Wales. The Liberal government in New South Wales has torn up the longstanding rights of the people of Horsley Park and Cecil Park to subdivide their land if they have five acres or to build a dwelling as small as a granny flat to house an elderly resident. The people of Horsley Park and Cecil Park have planned for years based on the existing law.

I recently held one of my coffees with a pollie in Horsley Park, but there was one issue that people wanted to talk about, and it was this. Plenty of people came down to tell me about their white hot anger with the Berejiklian Liberal government. The fact is they bought these blocks of land years ago with a view to one day subdividing it for their children, and their rights have been ripped away. Charles Borg wrote:

At some stage in the near future my mother will need to apply for an age pension if she cannot subdivide and sell her land as she does not intend to leave her family home of 52 years.

These are the real-life implications of this arrogant approach by the Liberal Party in New South Wales. And what's been the response of the state Liberal member? She gave a speech in the state parliament attacking me. I couldn't give two hoots what she says about me, because she can say what she likes. I would just like her to do her job and stand up for the people who elected her, the people of Horsley Park and Cecil Park.

The SPEAKER: The document will be forwarded to the Standing Committee on Petitions for its consideration. It will be accepted subject to confirmation by the committee that it conforms to the standing orders.

I seek leave to incorporate the petition.

Leave granted.

The document read as follows—

The NSW State Government's new State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) regarding the Western Sydney Aerotropolis overrides Fairfield City Council powers, which means residents in Horsley Park and Cecil Park will have additional restrictions placed on their property.

After 1 October 2020, residents who own land or five acres of more will only be allowed to build one property. The Berejiklian Liberal State Government is removing the rights of landowners retrospectively and without proper consultation.

We the undersigned petition to revoke this unfair SEPP and engage in proper consultation with the community