LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SPEAKERS debated & moved amendments on the Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Planning Systems Reform) Bill 2025.

FOKE’s overview of debate in the Legislative Assembly 23 October 2025

• Strong opposition from Greens and several councils, citing risks of centralised power, developer influence, and weakened environmental protections.
• Government defended the Bill as necessary to streamline planning, increase housing supply, and modernise processes.
• Concerns raised about lack of consultation, transparency, and potential for increased corruption.

Greens and Council Opposition: Centralisation, Corruption, and Environmental Risks

• Bill centralises planning power, reduces local and environmental protections.
• Multiple councils and Local Government NSW express concern over loss of local control, transparency, and increased corruption risk.
• Bill fast-tracks developments, including coal, gas, and renewables, with reduced environmental oversight.
• Short exhibition and assessment periods (as low as 10 days) challenge council capacity and public input.
• Environmental groups label bill as major rollback of protections; call for ICAC and parliamentary inquiry.

Crossbench and Minor Party Concerns: Land Use, Fast-Tracking, and Amendments

• Bill grants sweeping fast-track powers to Minister and Department.
• Constituents express concerns about fast-tracking renewable energy and mining projects, especially in Mudgee.
• Ongoing land-use conflict between food producers and mining in Mudgee remains unresolved by bill.
• Minister’s amendments address some concerns, but further amendments will be proposed.

Greens’ Broader Critique: Democracy, Transparency, and Policy Disillusionment

• Greens MPs and 73-74 Greens councillors strongly oppose the bill.
• Bill undermines democracy and suppresses community opposition.
• Labor government criticised for lack of transparency, consultation, and accountability.
• Bill favours developers and large companies over community interests.

Government Response: Justification, Safeguards, and System Modernisation

• Acknowledgement of bipartisan cooperation between NSW Labor and NSW Liberal Party in developing the Environmental Planning and Assessment Planning Systems Reforms Bill.
• Bill aims to make the planning system fairer, faster, and more modern by removing ambiguity, duplication, and complexity.
• Current NSW planning system criticised for slow approvals, inconsistent rules, and bureaucratic overlap, causing housing supply bottlenecks.
• Establishes Development Coordination Authority (DCA) to coordinate state agency expertise, improve consistency, and increase transparency without bypassing community consultation.
• DCA required to report annually, creating a single accountable body for tracking performance across more than 20 agencies.