Tasmania's bid to reform its planning system and bypass local councils has stalled. 

The state government’s Development Assessment Panels (DAPs) bill has failed to secure enough support in the Legislative Council, blocked by seven independents and one Greens member despite backing from the Labor and Liberal parties.

The proposed legislation aimed to allow some major development applications to bypass councils, with decisions made by panels appointed by the Tasmanian Planning Commission. 

Planning Minister Felix Ellis argued it would “take the politics out of planning”, but critics cited a lack of consultation and concerns over reduced community input.

Independent Murchison MLC Ruth Forrest, while supporting DAPs in principle, said she could not endorse the current bill. 

“What I have heard very clearly from my local government areas, from LGAT and a number of other stakeholders, [is that they] are quite concerned about the process,” she said, also noting the lack of an appeals process. 

Forrest called for stronger community engagement in planning decisions.

“It is really important we do not remove the really important community engagement in this space,” she said. 

The bill targeted projects deemed significant, complex, or controversial, or those involving major investments such as affordable housing, high-value developments in urban or rural areas, or council-led applications. 

Planning Minister Ellis could have also directed the establishment of panels for developments meeting these criteria.

The Local Government Association of Tasmania (LGAT), alongside several mayors, opposed the bill. 

They argued it lacked detail, diminished community involvement, and increased ministerial influence. 

LGAT President Mick Tucker praised the Legislative Council’s rejection of the bill.

“The government has tried to unfairly blame councils for trying to do their best with an outdated system owned, but not maintained, by the state government,” he said. 

Despite this, Tucker affirmed councils’ openness to collaborating on planning reforms.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff faced criticism for dismissing concerns raised by local government leaders. 

“This legislation failed because of the premier’s over-the-top attack on local government,” Labor planning spokesperson Shane Broad said.

Ellis has pledged to reintroduce the legislation next year.

CareerSpot This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.