Planning Matters Alliance Tasmania is a growing network of almost 80 diverse community groups from across Lutruwita/Tasmania, united by a shared belief: that good planning is essential to protecting Tasmania’s communities, environment, cultural and built heritage and democracy.
As the only organisation in Lutruwita/Tasmania solely focused on better planning, we work to ensure Tasmania’s planning system — guided by the Resource Management and Planning System (RMPS) — serves people and nature, safeguarding our coasts, landscapes, national parks and heritage while supporting liveable, sustainable communities for the future.
Act Now: Defend Local Government Democracy
We’re asking you to please email all Legislative Councillors immediately, asking them to give the community the right to comment on the ‘Local Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Bill 2026‘, which puts at risk our democratic rights.
Please act now. The legislation may be debated and voted on as early as this Wednesday 27 May or Thursday 28 May 2026.
Please follow the simple steps below to email all Legislative Council.
STEP 2 – Copy email subject heading:
The community has a right to be consulted on removing 50 seats from Local Government
STEP 3 – Send suggested email text:
Please courteously personalise your email. Personalising your message creates a powerful impact with Parliamentarians.
The Legislative Council is currently considering the legislation, ‘Local Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Bill 2026‘, that proposes a reduction of 50 councillors statewide as well as a range of other changes to local government.
The legislative provisions in this bill that relate to councillor numbers have not been released for public comment and should be.
We ask that the Legislative Council remove the bill from being debated and request that the government release it for public consultation before it is brought back to Parliament. If this is not possible then the Legislative Council should amend the bill to remove the proposed changes to councillor numbers.
I would like the Legislative Council to understand that the State Government has gone to extraordinary lengths to avoid scrutiny on the proposed changes, from the community, local government and the parliament.
In a very sneaky maneuver the ‘Local Government Amendment (Targeted Reform) Bill 2026 – Exposure Draft‘ was released for public comment last year, with submissions closing on 17 November 2025, but the draft bill did not include the legislative provisions relating to councillor numbers and allowances. Even though a Discussion Paper covering these issues was released for public comment in September 2025, it is extraordinary that draft legislation was not released on such controversial issues.
The government seems to have made a calculated decision to avoid scrutiny of the final legislation by the community, local governments and parliament.
When the TCT and PMAT requested an opportunity to present to the Legislative Council, to respond to these issues, the government refused. They got to brief a few of the Legislative Councillors after Meg Webb organised a private briefing.
The Office of Local Government may have misled the Legislative Council by asserting that local government responses to councillor numbers and allowances were summarised in a consultation paper when this is false. The government seems to be unwilling to advise the parliament what each local government thinks of the proposed changes to councillors.
The Tasmanian public may have very mixed views on reducing the number of local government councillors but they should be given the opportunity to have their say. Reducing the number of councillors could reduce the level of representation of the community and weaken our democracy. Community representation could be reduced through fewer people being elected from minority groups and the more sparsely populated parts of municipalities. If fewer councillors are elected there will be fewer people to do the work of council and to respond to community inquiries and concerns.
Sincerely,
Your name
STEP 4 – Share!
This is our chance to be heard before the vote. Please share immediately and thank you, truly, for your support.
We’re keeping watch on the DAP Bill
For the third time, the Tasmanian Government is pushing legislation to remove planning decisions from local councils and hand them to Development Assessment Panels (DAPs) — an undemocratic fast-track process that strips communities of their say and their right to appeal. DAPs would apply to virtually any development on both private and public land, including World Heritage Areas, National Parks and Reserves, with huge implications for nature and communities across Lutruwita/Tasmania.
The Bill hasn’t been tabled yet, but we’re keeping a close watch on the Government and ready to act quickly if it is.
If you haven’t already, please email your Parliamentarians to make your voice heard. Every message counts, and when the time comes to respond quickly, we’ll need your support behind us.
Our Work & Campaigns
PMAT works across a full range of planning issues that shape Lutruwita/Tasmania’s communities and environment — from protecting our coasts, national parks, healthy landscapes and Aboriginal heritage, to housing, residential standards, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and good governance, including transparency and democracy.
Tasmanian State Coastal Policy
State of The Environment Reporting
Development Assessment Panels (DAPs)
National Parks & Reserves
Housing & Planning
Community Guides
Study Planning at UTAS
If you’re interested in one of these courses you can book a 20-minute consultation call here.
Graduate Diploma of Environmental Planning
Master of Planning
Graduate Certificate in Urban Planning
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