Andrew Clennell, State Political Editor for the Daily Telegraph wrote on 3 December 2015 in his report “Greater Sydney Commission: Lucy Turnbull named Chair” that the PM’s wife, former Sydney Lord Mayor Lucy Turnbull had been appointed as Chair of the NSW Government’s new Greater Sydney Commission.
Whose idea was this?
It was reported the decision had been made at Cabinet in the prior week.
And that both Premier Mike Baird and Planning Minister Rob Stokes dismissed concerns of a conflict of interest with Mrs Turnbull, the wife of the Prime Minister.
‘The Daily Telegraph understood Premier Mike Baird and Planning Minister Rob Stokes bypassed concerns of a conflict of interest with Mrs Turnbull being the wife of the Prime Minister.’
Mrs Turnbull prior to this appointment had been the Chair of the ‘Committee for Sydney’, and a former Sydney Lord Mayor from 2003 to 2004.
The following day, 4 December 2015 the Meriton Group issued its Media Release:
‘Meriton Group Launched its Chatswood Towers’
View: https://www.meriton.com.au/meriton-group-launched-its-chatswood-towers/
‘Last night, Chair of the Committee of Sydney, the honourable Lucy Hughes Turnbull officially launched Meriton’s two towers, Centrium, in the affluent business district of Chatswood.
Ms Hughes Turnbull was accompanied by Meriton Group’s CEO, Harry Triguboff AO and both will be welcomed by over 150 people who attended the private launch which included government, council officials and media.’
SO where did the idea of a ‘Greater Sydney Commission’ come from? When it is alleged it was ‘set up in order to stop the bickering of councils and get Sydney moving’ … does that sound something like Harry would say? With his Meriton a member of the developer lobby group, the Urban Taskforce? From where numerous like Media Releases issue. And a good friend of the Turnbulls?
Planning Minister Rob Stokes in putting it through parliament has said that “for too long Sydney’s urban planning has operated in silos of councils and government departments, without effective joined-up co-ordination of the infrastructure our city and suburbs need”.
The role of the GSC will include:
-regular reviews of Councils’ Local Environmental Plans
-to become the decision maker on rezoning proposals previously undertaken by the Minister
READ MORE!
COMMUNITY ACTION ALLIANCE FOR NSW (CAAN): HOUSING INEQUALITY WITH AUSSIES LOCKED OUT! 