The 'Panelization' of Planning Decision-Making in Australia

Over recent years, a significant change to decision-making structures has occurred within several planning jurisdictions in Australia. Administrative bodies generically described as 'planning panels' have, to varying degrees, assumed the planning decision-making responsibilities of traditional executive groups such as state government ministers and departments, and elected representatives and managers within local government. This phenomenon of the 'panelization' of planning decision-making represents a significant change to planning practice and arguably constitutes a fundamental paradigm shift in urban and regional governance in that country. Planning panels adopted in four states - South Australia, Western Australia, Victoria and New South Wales are examined in this paper.