DARWIN — Sunday, 8 March 2026
PLan: the Planning Action Network Inc. has formally requested that the Development Consent Authority (DCA) reconvene the hearing for PA2025/0441 (Ludmilla Bush Block), following a total collapse of procedural fairness at the public hearing held on Friday, 6 March.
The hearing was prematurely terminated and the public gallery evicted, leaving critical technical questions—including concerns regarding a proposed contamination cell on Zone RD land—unanswered.
A System Under Pressure
Despite written assurances from the Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment, Joshua Burgoyne, that the Planning Act 1999 provides “robust provisions” for public input, the reality on Friday was a scene of chaos and intimidation.
Witnesses and submitters, including PLan Convener Nicholas Kirlew, reported:
- Physical Intimidation: An applicant representative (former political candidate Steve Doherty) physically crowding speakers and pacing the room.
- Verbal Hostility: The use of inflammatory slurs and “liar” interjections directed at community members.
- Administrative Failure: The Chair failing to protect the public’s right to a safe environment and ultimately clearing the room of the victims rather than the aggressors.
The “Robust” Illusion
Just over one year ago, Minister Burgoyne withdrew decades of bipartisan funding from PLan, citing the inherent “robustness” of the current planning system as the reason community advocacy groups no longer required support.
“Friday proved that without professional advocacy and a fair referee, the community is simply silenced by those with the loudest voices and the most political connections,” says PLan Convener Nick Kirlew.
Our Demands
PLan has lodged a formal complaint and is calling for:
- The Hearing to be Reconvened: All submitters must be given their statutory right to be heard as per Section 96 of the Act.
- No Notice of Decision: The DCA must withhold any decision until the public consultation is legally and safely completed.
- Safety Protocols: Proper enforcement of meeting procedures to prevent physical crowding and verbal abuse of participants by applicants.
Action Alert: Email the Minister
We encourage all supporters to email Minister Burgoyne directly to ask why the “robust provisions” of the Planning Act failed so spectacularly on Friday. Email: minister.burgoyne@nt.gov.au