Unions furious policies have been outsourced to be reviewed

Critical changes to health, planning and education policy are being delayed because tough government decisions have been outsourced to time-consuming reviews. The lengthy list of policy issues currently under review has come under fire from unions and business leaders.

Critical changes to health, planning and education policy are being delayed because tough government decisions have been outsourced to time-consuming reviews.

The lengthy list of policy issues currently under review has come under fire from unions and business leaders who say ministers are increasingly too scared to make decisions.

Labor is also deploying the tactic ahead of the state election with Opposition leader Michael Daley promising to review a wide range of topics from parole to stadiums and to convene a summit on drugs.

NSW Opposition Leader Michael Daley is promising to send a range of topics to be reviewed. Picture: AAP Image/Joel Carrett

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The government is currently holding a “special commission of inquiry into ice” that won’t wrap up until September, Lucy Turnbull is leading a review of the Macquarie St East Precinct redevelopment until mid-2019 while the findings of a Fast Rail Feasibility Study — with a price tag of $4.6 million — won’t be handed down until late 2019.

Reviews into overpopulation in Ryde and hospital security will be wrapped up prior to the March election.

Labor’s review list include a “special commission of inquiry” into the Barwon Darling River in the wake of the mass fish deaths and a judicial inquiry into WestConnex, light rail and stadiums.

The mass fish deaths a Barwon Darling River is undergoing a “special commission of inquiry”. Picture: AAP Image/Supplied by Graeme McCrabb

There is a judicial inquiry into WestConnex. Picture: AAP Image/Joel Carrett

It will also review roads classification and the state’s parole system. And Labor promises to re-enact a Drug Summit held in 1999 and canvass pill testing and other drug policy.

Health Services Union national secretary Gerard Hayes said reviews were “so governments can be seen to be doing something when you’re not doing anything”.

“It used to be something that was fundamental to appropriate process … now it’s just so things can be seen to being done, get it off the front page and then resurrect it how they want.”

Harvey Norman chairman Gerry Harvey said money “wasted” on reviews would be better redirected to addressing issues.

Gerry Harvey said money being “wasted” on reviews could be put to better use. Picture: James Croucher

NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet defended the reviews saying it allowed experts for their input. Picture: AAP Image/Erik Anderson

“They don’t need to do a review on a lot these problems to know what they are, they’re very obvious,” he said.

Treasurer Dominic Perrottet defended the government’s record of reviews which he said allowed for expert input and stakeholder consultation.

He said the government didn’t “shy away from difficult decisions” and acted on review recommendations.

“It’s the Labor Party that hides behind talk fests and reviews and puts a foot in both camps when it comes to tough issues such as pill testing,” he said.

A spokesman for Michael Daley said reviews would allow him to “listen to experts”. and would not delay progress.