1. Leading Practice Model for Development Assessment Local Government Managers Australia National Congress 2 nd May 2007 Daniel Owen General Manager Local Government and Natural Disaster Relief Australian Government Department of Transport and Regional Services

2. Introduction Development Assessment Reform Leading Practice Model Current Work Programme The Way Forward

3. Harmonising and improving Australia's development assessment system is a long term focus for both the development industry and government. Reduced compliance burdens and more flexible regulatory systems will improve business efficiency, stimulate growth and help business generate employment.

4. Recommendation 29 of the Commonwealth’s 1996 Time for Business report proposed that the three levels of government develop a reform strategy for referral and concurrence procedures in the building and development industry.

5. Development Assessment Forum Development Assessment Forum (DAF) formed in 1998 to reach agreement on ways to streamline the processes used for development approval and cut red tape - without sacrificing the quality of the decision making.

6. Local Government and Planning Joint Committee (JC) Planning Officials Group (POG) Development Assessment Forum (DAF) Council of Australian Governments Local Government Joint Officials Group (LOGJOG) Local Government and Planning Ministers’ Council (LGPMC)

7. DAF Members Includes the three spheres of government, the development industry and related professional associations. Commonwealth representative State/Territory Governments Local Government Australian Local Government Association Local Government Managers Australia Engineers Institution of Australia Planning Institute Australia Royal Australian Institute of Architects Australian Council of Building Design Professions Building Designers Association of Australia Housing Industry Association Master Builders Association Property Council of Australia Urban Development Institute of Australia

8. The ten leading practices Effective policy development Objective rules and tests Built-in improvement mechanisms Track-based assessment A single point of assessment Notification Private sector involvement Professional determination for most applications Applicant appeals Third-party appeals

9. The six development assessment tracks Exempt Prohibited Self assess Code assess Merit assess Impact assess

10. DAF's current projects include: The promotion of the DAF leading practice model for development assessment (DA) The development of guidelines for effective policy development The development and implementation of a national electronic data exchange standard for DA Developing performance standards and benchmarking for planning and development systems.

11. Electronic Development Assessment (eDA)

12. Comparative Performance Measuring and Benchmarking Program

13. COAG Meeting 13 April 2007 COAG noted the continuing significance of the current DAF work program as part of the National Reform Agenda.

14. The Way Forward DAF is continuing its work on the leading practice model to make the model even more effective and will continue to be the source of innovative ideas and best practice for development assessment in Australia. This will guide the Forum’s continuing work program on initiatives to streamline development approval processes and cut red tape – without sacrificing the quality of decision making.

15. For more information on DAF and its activities, visit the DAF website at: www.daf.gov.au or call the DAF Secretariat at the Department of Transport and Regional Services 02 6274 6070.