Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Deputy Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Burston for his question and some advance knowledge of it, and acknowledge his interest in the safety and security of Australian citizens. I must start by stating that the Commonwealth does not have any specific state or constitutional powers relating to local government or land planning. With the exception of issues of national environmental concern, local planning issues are the responsibility of the relevant local government and state government. I also advise the senator that it is the longstanding practice of the Australian government not to comment on what advice has been provided by or sought from our intelligence agencies in relation to specific security threats. What I can say to the senator, however, is that Commonwealth security and law enforcement agencies do not direct local governments in relation to development and planning matters, and these decisions are entirely a matter for the respective state and local government bodies.