Background Report & Joint Media Releases: Scrap proposed legislation to weaken State Coastal Policy

July 19, 2024
Report & Media Releases

Background Report & Joint Media Releases: Scrap proposed legislation to weaken State Coastal Policy

Media Enquiries

Sophie Underwood
PMAT State Director
sophie_underwood@hotmail.com
0407 501 999

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The Validation (State Coastal Policy) Bill 2024 was released for very limited public consultation from the 16 July – 1 August 2024 and is available here and here.

The proposed changes will profoundly change the State Coastal Policy and the way our coasts are managed and protected in Tasmania.

Key reasons why PMAT, the Tasmanian Conservation Trust and the Australian Coastal Society (Tasmanian Branch), encouraged the Tasmanian Parliament to oppose the Validation (State Coastal Policy) Bill 2024:

REASON 1: The need for the Validation Bill has not been established

Government has not released its advice
Existence of coastal infrastructure not confirmed
Government’s claims about lack of definitions and maps not substantiated

REASON 2: The Supreme Court should be allowed to do their job

REASON 3: Retrospective suspension of State Coastal Policy undermines the rule of law

REASON 4: Impacts of the pilitika/Robbins Island wharf will not be assessed

REASON 5: Public submissions raised serious concerns about the Validation Bill that were ignored

REASON 6: Unintended consequences of the Validation Bill

REASON 7: No need to rush changes

REASON 8: Fast-tracking amending the Tasmanian State Coastal Policy to create a new assessment process for developments on actively mobile landforms

See more information for each reason in the Background Report (below).

1. Background Report

Please read PMAT’s background report: Proposed changes to the Tasmanian State Coastal Policy 1996 and the proposed Robbins Island wind farm.

2. Media Releases

Please read PMAT’s Media Releases below:

Joint Media Release: Proposed changes to Tasmania’s Coastal Policy touches community nerve

Joint Media Release: State Government must scrap its proposed legislation to weaken the Tasmanian Coastal Policy

Joint Media Release: State Government must not legislate to kill ongoing court case over Robbins Island wind farm

3. PMAT's Submission on the Draft Validation Bill 2024

Ask your local Council’s position on DAPs. In total 542 submissions were received in 2023 re DAPs on urban/private land with 515 (95%) against (clearly against: 15 community organisations, 484 individuals, 11 councils and 5 councils mostly against). In total, only 14 submissions were clearly in favour. Only four individual members of the public and one council supported the DAPs. The other supporting submissions were development-focused government departments and peak organisations for property development and related industries. See Councillor contact details, including an easy-to-use group email option here:

4. Environmental Defenders Office Submission

The Environmental Defenders Office Submission in response to the Draft Validation (State Coastal Policy) Bill 2024 (lutruwita/Tasmania)

5. Staff Members of the University of Tasmania Law School

Submission to the Validation (State Coastal Policy) Bill 2024 by Ms Anja Hilkemeijer, Professor Jan McDonald, Dr Emille Boulot and Ms Cleo Hansen-Lohrey.

6. Public Submission Results

With just over 400 submissions made in the briefest of public comment periods, 97% of submissions received by the Tasmanian Government were opposed to the proposed retrospective changes to the State Coastal Policy.

A total of 387 submissions, 268 from members of the public and 19 from community groups statewide indicated their clear and unambiguous opposition to the Validation (State Coastal Policy) Bill 2024 tabled in State Parliament on 7 August. Many of the submissions included personal anecdotes and statements on the personal connections people have with the Tasmanian coast.

Just three submissions in support of the legislation were received; the remaining 10 submissions were neutral. Of the 24 coastal Councils in Tasmania, just two made submissions. Clarence Council offered only qualified support, while Kingborough Council was neutral.

Read the Media Release below: Tasmanian community overwhelmingly rejects proposed retrospective changes to State Coastal Policy – for more information and submission results.

Image of Robbins Island/pilitika thanks to Rob Blakers

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