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The Victorian Labor Party's planning policies would strip local councils of many of their legitimate planning powers, particularly in the approval process for medium-density housing developments,  according to the Minister for Planning and Local Government, Mr Robert Maclellan.

"By threatening to impose blanket State enforcement on height levels and medium-density housing, the ALP is sending a clear message that democratically-elected local councils cannot be trusted to administer planning policy."

Mr Maclellan said the ALP's proposed return of council monopoly powers in building surveying and demolition controls would devastate the building industry and put thousands of jobs at risk.

In addition, the State ALP platform was at odds with the former Keating Labor Government's national competition policy, which sought to remove monopolies on services provided by state and local governments.

Mr Maclellan said Victoria presently received from the Federal Government millions of dollars in payments for introducing competition policy - ongoing payments which would be at risk under the ALP plan to restore council monopoly powers.

"The Good Design guide is a product of a public review of its predecessor, Vic Code 2 - a draft policy inherited from Labor.

Mr Maclellan pointed out that the former Cain Labor Government introduced as-of-right dual occupancy housing in a bid to consolidate Melbourne's urban development.

The Coalition Government's reform of the planning system and building regulation since 1992 had contributed to a boom in building activity across the state.

"The value of private building work has risen 25 per cent in the last financial year, from $5.6 billion in 1996-97 to a record $7.08 billion in 1997-98," he said.

"During the 1997-98 financial year, more than 33,000 building permits, worth $869 million, were issued for extensions and renovations.

(News Release, Minister for Planning, August 27, 1998)