The Centre for Public Integrity Chair, Anthony Whealy is warning that the NSW Government’s planning and environment Bill risks corruption and in its current form will have far reaching consequences.  

The NSW Premier Chris Minnis, Planning Minister Paul Scully and the Treasurer Daniel Mookhey announced in September 2025   they wanted to simplify the planning process and turbocharge approvals for new housing. 

The laws affect both housing and mining. Despite the government’s focus on housing, the new planning would remove constraints that currently prohibit large controversial developments such as mines and renewable energy projects. 

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has exposed many examples of corrupt conduct involving developers and NSW government ministers or senior officials since it was established in 1988.

Under the Bill the NSW Planning Minister would be given new powers to streamline projects through a Targeted Assessment Development (TAD) which would prohibit it from considering impacts on the environment and public interest.

The bill would remove the legislative requirement to seek advice from government departments (eg Dams Safety NSW, Transport for NSW, Sydney Water Corporation and Fisheries) on developments. Instead, a new body, called the Development Coordination Authority (DCA), would make decisions.

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) would also no longer need to be consulted about the impact of a development on threatened species.

The Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) warned that the planning secretary, acting through the DCA, would be given broad new powers “without appropriate oversight or safeguards”.

The new legislation effectively removes local government from planning, allows Local Environment Plans to be amended by the planning secretary. It removes critical checks and balance and open the whole system to corruption.

Read more at ABC News: NSW planning overhaul removes corruption and environment safeguards, legal experts say, 13 October HERE

Read Legislative Assembly Hansard – 17 September 2025 HERE

Read Environmental Planning and Assessment (Planning System Reforms) Bill 2025 HERE