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Published: Thursday, 23 October 2025 14:00
On Monday, the Herald reported an exclusive interview with NSW Premier Chris Minns, with the headline “Minns puts councils on notice over NSW housing crisis”. Yes, in the Government’s frenzy to get houses built and social housing as part of that, it’s all councils’ fault! No mention of the failures of a succession of governments to provide schooling and other infrastructure which should precede the building of houses.
About councils he said, “and they can be a pain, yeah, they can. But we’ve been rolling over the top of them for the last two years, and now we are about to formalise it with the bill… The secret here, though, is that local government is just an act of the state parliament.” Seriously?
This coincides with the government’s bill to make changes to the 50-year-old Planning Act, supported by the Coalition, designed to make it quicker and easier to deliver new homes.
The changes, universally condemned by the industry, will enshrine in law a three-person Housing Delivery Authority, to set significant developments on a fast track and bypass local councils. What could possibly go wrong?
It’s been a long time since a government threatened councils by reminding them that local government exists through legislation of the State. Minns underestimated the response.
On Tuesday, the Herald reported, “The Premier backtracked yesterday, admitting he “cringed a bit” when reading his comments… So (I) definitely said those words, but if I had my time again, I would have said it in a different way - because we want to work with Councils”.
Governments don’t understand planning and have a history of bad decisions - starting with amendments to the Planning Act in 1998 removing building regulation from councils and lost forever the concept of a BA which was invariably handled locally, assisting applicants across the counter, and providing local solutions and introducing private certification; and in 2010 extending to the accreditation of council staff, who were already better regulated and managed as employees. Governments never learn.
Our Committee of Management is putting together a paper on planning, with some recommendations, and that link will be in next month’s issue of depaNews.
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Published: Thursday, 23 October 2025 14:00
The Local Government State Award was initially made in October 1991 to apply from 1992. It revolutionised employment practices in local government and established a flexible and cooperative framework for the workplace. The State Award was originally made by the consent of the parties (LGNSW, USU, depa and LGEA) and has been varied by agreement ever since. There is a common view between the employer and employee organisations to create and protect rewarding work, flexible working arrangements, and improved productivity.
The parties built this important and historic document recognising our common interests, Socratic, rather than sledging, and we’re doing it again.
The meetings are scheduled to roll through into 2026 for a new three-year Award to be made to operate from the first pay period after 1 July 2026.
The employers and the unions have submitted logs of claims, and here is ours.
