The independent panel members [DAPs] are generally pro-development and pro government of the day. They are anything but independent or apolitical.
Examiner Opinion Piece: Will panels undermine local councils? Read More »
The Tasmanian Government has released a State Coastal Policy Position Paper, seperate from the Draft Validation State Coastal Bill 2024, for public comment to fast-track changes to Tasmania’s State Coastal Policy. The proposed changes to Tasmania’s State Coastal Policy will profoundly weaken the Policy and the way coasts are managed and protected in Tasmania.
Take Action for Tasmania’s Coasts: Make a Submission Read More »
Most submissions are against draft laws, write Peter McGlone, Sophie Underwood and Eric Woehler. Published in The Mercury 18 September 2024.
Mercury Opinion Piece: Plea to consider view on coastal policy changes Read More »
Today, 28 organisations have signed an open letter to the Rockliff Government calling for the immediate publication of the first State of the Environment Report in 15 years and for the government to act upon the report’s findings. Tasmania has been without a report since 2009 following the government’s failure to meet legal obligations to publish a report every 5 years.
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.
Due to PMAT’s work with a range of community groups, it became apparent that proposed changes to our planning appeals tribunal (TASCAT) would have significantly undermined our democracy and had disturbing effect on community members or organisations of not being able to lodge a planning appeal that was contrary to Government policy. We have been told that this was a drafting error. Imagine if it had become law????
Policies should be protecting, not threatening, our island coastline, write Dr Larelle Bossi and Dr Eric Woehler. Published in The Mercury 15 August 2024.
Mercury Opinion Piece: It’s wild, diverse & special: our coast’s define us Read More »
A coalition of community groups concerned for Tasmania’s coasts have welcomed the hundreds of public submissions made in response to the Tasmanian Government’s proposed legislation to retrospectively change the State Coastal Policy – a Policy that has protected Tasmania’s coasts for almost 30 years.
PMAT, and other Tasmanian conservation organisations, are calling on the State Government to halt plans to retrospectively amend the Tasmanian State Coastal Policy, commit to not interfere with the Robbins Island Supreme Court case and to release its legal arguments regarding the status of existing coastal structures.
Tasmanian conservation organisations repeat their call for the State Government to scrap their retrospective legislation to amend the Tasmanian State Coastal Policy, commit to not interfering with the Robbins Island Supreme Court case and to release its legal reasons regarding the status of existing coastal structures.
