Development panels bill passes Tasmania’s lower house

Despite a late plea, momentum is growing to permit some developments to bypass council for approval. Here’s what’s happened.

Brandon Atkinson owner of Acon Property and Rebecca Ellston Tasmanian executive director Property Council of Australia on site at Kingston. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Legislation to allow development assessment panels to consider some planning applications that were once the realm of councils has passed the lower house despite an 11th hour plea from local government.

Labor on Thursday announced it would back Liberal plans to pass laws creating the new planning pathway, as well as another bill to fast-track a new shopping centre near Devonport.

At the same time a meeting of the Local Government Association of Tasmania passed a motion that rejecting the DAP legislation “in its current form”.

It had the backing of all 29 councils, who appealed in vain to the parliament to suspend debate.

The legislation takes some development approvals out of the hands of local government and hand them to expert panels.

Though popular with developers, 92 per cent public submissions on the draft bill were opposed.

Minister for Housing, Planning and Consumer Affairs Felix Ellis said the bill was about keeping Tasmania “moving forward”.

Minister for Housing, Felix Ellis discusses the new planning legislation to be tabled in parliament. Picture: Linda Higginson

“This is about job creation, making opportunity and telling Tasmanians if your proposal meets the planning rules then you should get a fair go,” Minister Ellis said.

“Our DAPs will deliver more homes and be a force for positive change and progress statewide.

Labor leader Dean Winter on Thursday signalled his party’s backing for both bills, which the government is keen to rush through before the end of the parliamentary sitting year.

Mr Winter said the consultation process had been rushed, but Labor would back the bill.

“I can confirm that Labor will be backing the DAP legislation that the government’s brought on,” he told reporters.

“We’ve always supported the concept of DAPs, but we’ve now seen the full legislation as of a couple of days ago, being briefed on it and support the bill in its current form.

“We’re all in this to try and make Tasmania a better place.

“Whether you’re in local government or in your state government, or if you’re in business. “We’re all looking to try and make Tasmania a better place and I think it’s better when we work together.”

Leader of the Opposition Dean Winter in Parliament on Tuesday 19th November 2024. Picture: Linda Higginson

The legislation passed the House of Assembly around 9pm on Thursday.

Property Council of Australia Tasmania director Rebecca Ellston welcomed bipartisan support for the bill.

“What we’ve seen is a steady decrease in development applications over the past few years,” she said.

“That’s not an acceptable outcome for our state. What this legislation does is provide a certainty and a different pathway for development to occur here.”

Planning Matters Alliance Tasmania director Sophie Underwood said the legislation was disappointing.

“Communities across Tasmania have been badly let down by Labor and Liberal parties wanting to rush the parliamentary debate and avoid full scrutiny of the controversial DAP legislation.

“With all 29 Local Governments stating their opposition to the DAPs legislation the Labor and Liberal Parties should now vote against the DAPs.”

Minister for Housing, Planning and Consumer Affairs Felix Ellis hailed the passage of the Stony Rise legislation earlier on Thursday.

“Today was an important win not just for the Devonport community – but Tasmania as a whole,” he said.

“It is a signal to the business community that this Liberal Government is in your corner.”

Labor’s Shane Broad said the government had backed in a Labor policy.

“It’s embarrassing that Premier Rockliff had to wait for Labor to act first before jumping on board,” he said.