Since coming to the portfolio in December, Roberts has dumped the draft “design and place” policy led by his predecessor Rob Stokes, which would have implemented new rules for greener and more sustainable land and housing development.
Asked about Scully’s criticism on Wednesday, Roberts said he wanted to put on the record that “Rob Stokes was and is a fantastic planning minister”.
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“All I have done is listen to industry and say, ‘Look, there could have been more consultation’,” he said. “I don’t want to put anything else in your way to actually achieve what you want to do and what we want you to do and that is build more homes and better communities.
“Being planning minister, no one’s ever happy. You’re either building, for some people, too many homes, or for other people not enough homes. What does success look like? Everyone’s a little bit unhappy. You’ve just got to accept that. It’s not my job to be liked. My job is to undertake what the premier’s instructed me to do.”
Roberts acknowledged there was “some concern” in the room of developers about the performance of local governments in achieving their housing construction targets. But he said it was “important to look at the picture as a whole, and the statistics tell us that while there is more work to do, we are making headway”.
Priority also must be given to affordable housing, Roberts said, and indicated he would revise the government’s strategy to increase the number of social and affordable dwellings.
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