Legislative Council (Upper House of Tasmanian Parliament) elections are being held on 24 May 2025 in the seats of Montgomery, Nelson and Pembroke. All 13 candidates across the three seats were contacted by PMAT with an email inviting them to undertake a survey on their position on DAPs (Development Assessment Panels).
DAP Survey Results: Legislative Election Candidates Position on DAPs 2025 Read More »
The Tasmanian Government’s renewed push for DAPs is another demonstration they don’t care about the community or Local Government,” says Ms Underwood, “In 2024, we saw huge opposition against the DAPs Bill with 92% of submissions (444/482) against, every local Council opposed, and the Legislative Council voted it down. This Bill is not significantly different to last time.
“Underpinning the DAP [Development Assessment Panel] proposal and the curtailment of appeal rights is the undermining of democracy. And there is also the fact that given Tasmania’s appalling propensity for conflicts of interest and weak political donation laws, the risk of undue influence, to put it mildly, cannot be ruled out.” Greg Barns piece published in the Mercury – Some disturbing developments for democracy (3/3/2025).
The Mercury: Some Disturbing Developments for Democracy Read More »
Planning legislation critics say new bill is very similar to last year’s failed attempt. Written by David Killick in The Mercury 01/03/2025.
The Mercury: DAPs ‘undemocratic’ Read More »
A DAP proposal represents a very elitist view that would fundamentally undermine our councils, writes Professor David Adams.
“The Government has brought back this highly contentious Bill, despite 92% of the almost 500 submissions received on the first version of the anti-democratic Bill in 2024 were opposed. The DAPs Bill was so flawed, every council in Tasmania voted against it and it was voted down in the Legislative Council on the last sitting day of Parliament last year,” said Sophie Underwood, State Director of the Planning Matters Alliance Tasmania (PMAT).
The major changes to planning appeal rights announced on 7 February 2025 by Minister for Planning, Felix Ellis, will impact every single Tasmanian by taking away community rights and preferencing property developers over the community.
“The state government has promised further reforms to our planning system, this time to curtail the right of third parties to appeal council decisions to the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.”
Mercury Article: Planning For A Fight Ahead Read More »
The latest attack on our planning appeal rights by the Tas Government is anti-democratic & removes the community’s voice. In the Mercury on 08 Feb 2025, Felix Ellis said the major changes to appeal rights will stop “anti-everything organisations” from objecting. In reality, it strips away public oversight, leaving communities powerless against bad developments. Property developers will retain their rights to appeal planning decisions but the general public won’t.
Mercury Article: Appeals Block in Third Party Appeal Process Read More »
See how each member of the Legislative Council and House of Assembly voted on DAPs.
How did Legislative Council + House of Assembly vote on DAPs? Read More »
