Latest news with #VictorianCivilandAdministrativeTribunal
The Age
4 days ago
- Business
- The Age
The suburban towers being green-lit without community approval
A 17-storey community housing tower is set to transform Greensborough's skyline after the state government controversially pushed through the development and overrode council objections about the building's height and absence of family-friendly apartments. The Allan government has frequently wielded its strengthened powers to bypass local councils and fast-track developments, directly approving 11 major residential projects this year alone as it seeks to speed up new approvals and meet ambitious housing targets. This and other planning reforms centralising power have drawn the ire of councils, who argue community needs are not being adequately addressed. The Greensborough apartment project was green-lit through the government's Development Facilitation Program (DFP), which allows Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny to bypass councils if a project makes a significant contribution to the economy or includes affordable housing, under changes made in September 2023. The minister can also waive mandatory planning requirements related to building height, setbacks and garden areas. Decisions made by the minister under the provisions cannot be appealed to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT). Loading Kilkenny last month approved the tower, in Melbourne's north-east, which permits construction of more than 200 one- and two-bedroom apartments. The homes, to be built above a Savers shop on Para Road, will be operated and managed by a community housing provider offering rental homes to people on low to moderate incomes. 'This project will ensure hundreds of Victorians will be able to live close to the things that matter to them – living in walking distance to the train station, buses, parks, schools, shops and services,' Kilkenny said.
Sydney Morning Herald
4 days ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
The suburban towers being green-lit without community approval
A 17-storey community housing tower is set to transform Greensborough's skyline after the state government controversially pushed through the development and overrode council objections about the building's height and absence of family-friendly apartments. The Allan government has frequently wielded its strengthened powers to bypass local councils and fast-track developments, directly approving 11 major residential projects this year alone as it seeks to speed up new approvals and meet ambitious housing targets. This and other planning reforms centralising power have drawn the ire of councils, who argue community needs are not being adequately addressed. The Greensborough apartment project was green-lit through the government's Development Facilitation Program (DFP), which allows Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny to bypass councils if a project makes a significant contribution to the economy or includes affordable housing, under changes made in September 2023. The minister can also waive mandatory planning requirements related to building height, setbacks and garden areas. Decisions made by the minister under the provisions cannot be appealed to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT). Loading Kilkenny last month approved the tower, in Melbourne's north-east, which permits construction of more than 200 one- and two-bedroom apartments. The homes, to be built above a Savers shop on Para Road, will be operated and managed by a community housing provider offering rental homes to people on low to moderate incomes. 'This project will ensure hundreds of Victorians will be able to live close to the things that matter to them – living in walking distance to the train station, buses, parks, schools, shops and services,' Kilkenny said.
The Age
22-04-2025
- The Age
Lawyers disciplined over ‘offensive, demeaning' LGBTQ ‘joke' posted in lifts
Two veteran barristers have admitted to posting an offensive 'joke' about the LGBTQ community in the lifts inside a Melbourne legal chambers building in 2022, which sparked an investigation and led to official disciplinary action. John F. Perry, who has been a lawyer since 1979, admitted to emailing a letter to a colleague comparing gay, lesbian and transgender people to 'mud screwers' and suggesting LGBTQ lawyers were unfairly favoured for work, according to findings by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. The colleague, barrister Robert G. Squirrell, then printed and posted the letter – which used a logo similar to the official Victorian Bar logo – inside four lifts in the Owen Dixon Chambers East building, where it was seen by legal professionals and members of the public. Squirrell, who has also been a lawyer since 1979, also admitted to his conduct. The admissions form part of the formal disciplinary action brought against Perry and Squirrell by the Legal Services Board and Commissioner. VCAT found the pair had 'engaged in professional misconduct' that was 'conduct discreditable to a barrister'. It found the pair's conduct had the hallmarks of a juvenile prank had it not been for the men's ages and their 'offensive' actions. Loading In his email, Perry wrote: 'This is going in the lifts tomorrow.' The letter attached inside the email was headed: 'Establishment of LGBTQMS Review Committee' – an insulting play on the term LGBTQI. 'Member [sic] of the Bar identifying with one (or more) of the minority groups represented by the anagram above have expressed concerns that briefs from various large litigators both governmental and private have not been disproportionately directed to them,' the letter said. 'The letters 'MS' may require explanation. It refers to mud screwers, because, as the American Jewish comedian the late and great Lenny Bruce once said – 'Some guys would screw mud'.'
Sydney Morning Herald
22-04-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
Lawyers disciplined over ‘offensive, demeaning' LGBTQ ‘joke' posted in elevators
Two veteran barristers have admitted to posting an offensive 'joke' about the LGBTQ community in the elevators inside a Melbourne legal chambers building in 2022, which sparked an investigation and led to official disciplinary action. John F. Perry, who has been a lawyer since 1979, admitted to emailing a letter to a colleague comparing gay, lesbian and transgender people to 'mud screwers' and suggesting LGBTQ lawyers were unfairly favoured for work, according to findings by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. The colleague, barrister Robert G. Squirrell, then printed and posted the letter – which used a logo similar to the official Victorian Bar logo – inside four elevators in the Owen Dixon Chambers East building, where it was seen by legal professionals and members of the public. Squirrell, who has also been a lawyer since 1979, also admitted to his conduct. The admissions form part of the formal disciplinary action brought against Perry and Squirrell by the Legal Services Board and Commissioner, and VCAT found the pair had 'engaged in professional misconduct' that was 'conduct discreditable to a barrister'. VCAT found the pair's conduct had the hallmarks of a juvenile prank had it not been for the men's ages and their 'offensive' actions. Loading In his email, Perry wrote: 'This is going in the lifts tomorrow.' The letter attached inside the email was headed: 'Establishment of LGBTQMS Review Committee' – an insulting play on the term LGBTQI. 'Member [sic] of the Bar identifying with one (or more) of the minority groups represented by the anagram above have expressed concerns that briefs from various large litigators both governmental and private have not been disproportionately directed to them,' the letter said. 'The letters 'MS' may require explanation. It refers to mud screwers, because, as the American Jewish comedian the late and great Lenny Bruce once said – 'Some guys would screw mud'.'
The Age
22-04-2025
- The Age
Lawyers disciplined over ‘offensive, demeaning' LGBTQ ‘joke' posted in elevators
Two veteran barristers have admitted to posting an offensive 'joke' about the LGBTQ community in the elevators inside a Melbourne legal chambers building in 2022, which sparked an investigation and led to official disciplinary action. John F. Perry, who has been a lawyer since 1979, admitted to emailing a letter to a colleague comparing gay, lesbian and transgender people to 'mud screwers' and suggesting LGBTQ lawyers were unfairly favoured for work, according to findings by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. The colleague, barrister Robert G. Squirrell, then printed and posted the letter – which used a logo similar to the official Victorian Bar logo – inside four elevators in the Owen Dixon Chambers East building, where it was seen by legal professionals and members of the public. Squirrell, who has also been a lawyer since 1979, also admitted to his conduct. The admissions form part of the formal disciplinary action brought against Perry and Squirrell by the Legal Services Board and Commissioner, and VCAT found the pair had 'engaged in professional misconduct' that was 'conduct discreditable to a barrister'. VCAT found the pair's conduct had the hallmarks of a juvenile prank had it not been for the men's ages and their 'offensive' actions. Loading In his email, Perry wrote: 'This is going in the lifts tomorrow.' The letter attached inside the email was headed: 'Establishment of LGBTQMS Review Committee' – an insulting play on the term LGBTQI. 'Member [sic] of the Bar identifying with one (or more) of the minority groups represented by the anagram above have expressed concerns that briefs from various large litigators both governmental and private have not been disproportionately directed to them,' the letter said. 'The letters 'MS' may require explanation. It refers to mud screwers, because, as the American Jewish comedian the late and great Lenny Bruce once said – 'Some guys would screw mud'.'
