After setting its sights on “anti-development” and “ideologically motivated” councillors, the state government is now turning its attention to “anti-everything organisations”.
New laws will this year be introduced to limit who can challenge planning decisions.
Under the proposed changes, only those “directly and adversely impacted” by a development will be allowed to appeal to the Tasmanian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (TASCAT).
Planning Minister Felix Ellis said sensible and appropriate projects were being unfairly delayed by people who “relentlessly oppose” development.
The new laws will prevent appeals from interstate residents or people living at the other end of the state.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the reforms were about boosting growth, jobs and not stymieing development.
“It drives me to drink when we get these third-party vexatious appeals by well-funded green groups, as an example, on mainland Australia having an impact on our development,” he told FontCast.
“[They’re] making judgments from Sydney and their well-paid green jobs on what they think Tasmania should be about.”
The latest crackdown follows the government’s push to strip “anti-development” councillors of decision-making power through the introduction of independent development assessment panels.
These panels would allow experts, not elected councillors, to assess certain projects, preventing councils from rejecting developments that meet the planning scheme.
That legislation was opposed by the local government sector last year and will be pursued by the state government when Parliament returns.
