| Title | Better planning could improve terrorism protection but Wilson Tuckey fails again. |
| Database | Press Releases |
| Date | 16-09-2003 |
| Source | SHADOW MINISTER FOR HOUSING, REGIONAL SERVICES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT |
| Author | O'CONNOR, Gavan, (former Member) |
| Citation Id | VDFA6 |
| Cover date | Tuesday, 16 September 2003 |
| Enrichment | Built environment |
| Format | Online Text |
| In Government | no |
| Item | Online Text: 982145 |
| Key item | No |
| Major subject | Local Government and Planning Ministers Council Building regulation Counter terrorist measures Infrastructure TUCKEY, Wilson, (former Member) |
| MP | no |
| Pages | 1p. |
| Party | ALP |
| Speech | No |
| System Id | media/pressrel/VDFA6 |
Gavan O'Connor MP MEMBER FOR CORIO
SHADOW MINISTER FOR HOUSING, REGIONAL SERVICES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
16 September 2003
BETTER PLANNING COULD IMPROVE TERRORISM PROTECTION BUT WILSON TUCKEY FAILS AGAIN
As Local Government Minister and convenor of the Local Government and Planning Ministers Council Wilson Tuckey has failed to play his part in making Australians safe from terrorist attack.
One of the great lessons we must learn from September 11 is that to provide better protection for Australians in the event of terrorist attack.
Local Government through its building approvals codes and planning processes has a key role to play in this regard.
In its key report entitled “Securing Critical Infrastructure and the Built Environment†(June 2003) the Institution of Engineers was scathing of the Howard Government’s record in improving protection for the built environment. The report said that:
“…the Commonwealth’s response to threats to critical infrastructure and the built environment have been lacking…†and that: “Currently, Australia is approximately 18 months behind the US in its work to protect critical infrastructure and the built environment.â€
The Howard Government has been very slow to act on measures to improve the long-term security of Australians by creating a safer built environment.
Wilson Tuckey is the Commonwealth Minister responsible for planning matters but he has not used his position to work cooperatively with other levels of government to ensure that our built environment offers better protection in the event of terrorist attack.
Mr. Tuckey did not even think it worthwhile to include these considerations on the agenda for the Planning Minister Council meeting he convened back in July this year.
Wilson Tuckey’s mind has been occupied on matters important to him, such as attempting to get his son off a traffic fine, rather than on protecting the lives and property of Australians.
Contact: Gavan O’Connor on 0419 664 016 or Bernie Eades on 0418 523 820