Fundamentality, the Bill is inconsistent with Schedule 1 of the Land Use Planning and Approvals Act 1993 where the objectives of the resource management and planning system of Tasmania state to encourage public involvement in resource management and planning. The 2025 DAP Bill reduces public participation and oversight.

The 2025 DAP Bill will provide a new fast tracked DAP process to provide a permit for developments on both private and public land including World Heritage Areas, National Parks and Reserves. The State Government also intends to introduce two other pieces of new legislation. 1) to provide fast tracked approvals under the National Parks and Reserves Management Act 2002 for developments in reserved land (see PMAT’s submission here), and 2) Another Bill that will remove/limit appeal rights as announced by the Minister for Planning on the 7 February 2025. Thus, we are expecting three Bill, all of which will either completely remove or weaken planning appeal rights. Only the DAP Bill has been released for public comment.

PMAT does not support the proposed 2025 DAP Bill and instead wants councils to continue their important role of representing the interests of their local communities.

Transparency, independence and public participation in decision-making are critical for a healthy democracy and to help ensure good social and environmental planning outcomes.

We should be investing in expertise to improve the local government system and existing planning processes by providing more resources to councils and enhancing community participation and planning outcomes. This will also help protect local jobs and keep the cost of development applications down.

The Tasmanian Government should instead prohibit property developers from making donations to political parties, enhance transparency and efficiency in the administration of the Right to Information Act 2009, and create a strong anti-corruption watchdog.

Please also see PMAT’s website here which has further key information relating to DAPs regarding:

What’s happened to date on DAPs in Tasmania (including an easy to view timeline)

• PMAT’s key concerns and recommendations
• PMAT’s previous submissions on DAPs
• Watch/listen in to PMAT’s #ScrapTheDAP 400+ strong Town Hall 2024 public meeting here.