On 16 July 2024, for a short two-week public comment period the Tasmanian Government released draft legislation for the Draft Validation (State Coastal Policy) Bill 2024, to retrospectively validate planning permits which they dubiously asserted were issued in conflict with the State Coastal Policy 1996. 

The draft legislation released by the Tasmanian Government proposes to fast-track changes to Tasmania’s State Coastal Policy through the Tasmanian Parliament.

The Validation (State Coastal Policy) Bill 2024 was released for a very limited public consultation period between 16 July – 1 August 2024 and is available here and here. 

Changes of this magnitude, with such far reaching consequences, should go through the standard existing robust legislated eight-week public consultation process (with opportunity for public hearings) conducted by the Tasmanian Planning Commission. 

The proposed changes will profoundly weaken the State Coastal Policy and the way our coasts are managed and protected in Tasmania.

Tasmania’s coast is unique and largely unspoilt, thanks to the State Coastal Policy, which has protected it for almost 30 years.