The Chief Minister is on the air on ABC radio as I write. He is once again pushing the line that Assembly interference in the planning process of his precious power station will put us on the path to Wollongong Council.
Having spent the last year living in the Illawarra, and having met a few of the personalities thrust into the spotlight by that infamous corruption inquiry this confuses me.
It confuses me most because the problem at Wollongong was the reverse of elected representatives interfering in the planning process by public debate and vote. The (cough cough) Labor caucus on the council resolutely blocked any such interference.
The corruption occurred in the “proper planning process” with hidden officials manipulating the process. Transparency and accountability was then blocked by the permanent Labor majority.
Labor (or any single party) constantly getting it’s own way on planning is the road to Wollongong. Not open debate and votes on the public record.