The planning and environment law amendments being proposed by the government are a significant step backwards with regards to transparency, accountability and access to public scrutiny, the Environment and Planning Commissioner within the Office of the Ombudsman said.

In a letter sent to the Prime Minister and the Opposition leader on Wednesday and sent to the media this morning (see pdf link below), David Pace said that since the authority was set up, there was a continuous effort to improve the people's participation level and for the authority to be more open to public scrutiny.

But the bills being debated drastically reduced these two elements so amendments were needed to address this problem.

Mr Pace acknowledged that the demerger of the environment and planning authority was promised in the government's electoral programme so it had to be implemented, however the process should be aimed at creating more efficiency and reducing bureaucracy.

It had to be ensured that the two authorities would be transparent and allow for scrutiny and people participation at all levels, while there would also be the necessary checks and balances in the administrative and procedural structures adopted by the authorities.

Mr Pace said what was being proposed was a structure which concentrated power to a few people and widened ministerial power.

He proposed that the members of the executive council or at least the executive chairman should be appointed by the President following consultation with the Prime Minister and the Opposition leader.

He also said that the Environment Authority should have the right to be present in all discussions of the executive council. Its role should go much further than what was being proposed and considered which was a step backwards from what there was at present.

Mr Pace also proposed that it should be the Ombudsman's office that should prepare the State of the Environment report, to ensure that it was completely autonomous and independent.

On the revision tribunal, Mr Pace said that members should be full time so that they would not have to continue working in the private sector.

The Commissioner's letter in full can be read in the pdf link below.