Four years after I introduced a private members bill to remove the unique exemptions from planning and local government laws that gave the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust almost free reign to build without a planning assessment process, the Parliament passed the reforms through a government bill. This is a big win for transparency and accountability and for the adjacent communities who usually only find out about a project or building when construction begins.

The bill transferred management of the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground to Venues NSW, with members of the powerful trust to become an advisory body to government. It will be critical to the new regime that the trust’s influence and ability to get priority for its agenda over public good are not carried over. I supported an amendment moved by Labor to remove new powers in the bill that would have let the minister move the boundaries that set where visitor and tourist accommodation could be permitted without an act of parliament.

My speech: HERE.