- Reports, Media & Submissions
Background Report & Joint Media Releases: Scrap proposed legislation to weaken State Coastal Policy
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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.
- Government has not released its advice
- Existence of coastal infrastructure not confirmed
- Government’s claims about lack of definitions and maps not substantiated
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.
7. PMAT's Submission on Coastal Policy Paper
The Tasmanian Government released a State Coastal Policy Position Paper for public comment to fast-track changes to Tasmania’s State Coastal Policy that closed Monday 21 October 2024. Note this was a separate process to the Validation (State Coastal Policy) Bill 2024.
See PMAT’s Submission on the Coastal Policy Paper below.
Image of Robbins Island/pilitika thanks to Rob Blakers
Related News & Media
Take Action for Tasmania’s Coasts: Make a Submission
The Tasmanian Government has released a State Coastal Policy Position
Mercury Opinion Piece: Plea to consider view on coastal policy changes
Most submissions are against draft laws, write Peter McGlone, Sophie
Media Release: Tasmanian community overwhelmingly rejects proposed retrospective changes to State Coastal Policy
With just over 400 submissions made in the briefest of
Mercury Opinion Piece: It’s wild, diverse & special: our coast’s define us
Policies should be protecting, not threatening, our island coastline, write
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