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 public will have very limited right to appeal. Only those who are neighbours and are directly affected by a development will be able to lodge an appeal. Developments on both public and private land like skyscrapers in our cities or cable car proposals on reserved land such as kunyani/Mount Wellington and Cataract Gorge will not be able to be appealed by the community.

“The state government’s clear intention is to remove the community’s right to planning appeals and their voice.,” says Sophie Underwood, State Director of the Planning Matters Alliance Tasmania (PMAT).

“The planning change announced by the Government makes it clear that they want it easier for developers to do whatever they like – while it fails the community completely.

“We are also one of the few states that still allow political donations from property developers. These news laws are designed to make it easier for the development sector to do whatever they like.

“We cannot let a group of business developers make deals with our politicians behind closed doors in an attempt to silence and sidestep the actual people who live in Tasmanian neighbourhoods. Rights of local communities to have a say about developments that impact on their own home, their local streets and town, local parks and their most treasured National Parks and Reserves will effectively be removed.

“This is what Felix Ellis is proposing. They want to ensure the property industry can do whatever they want.” says Ms Underwood.

PMAT has a host of public meetings planned across the State to help inform the community about some of the most anti-democratic laws the state has ever seen.

“It’s important that people attend. It’s critical for our democracy and the future of Tasmania. If you care about shaping the future of Tasmania – then we ask you to come along to hear about these proposed laws.”