Wednesday, 12 November 2025

 Sonja TERPSTRA (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (13:08): Pursuant to section 35 of the Parliamentary Committees Act 2003, I table Alert Digest No. 15. of 2025, including appendices, and a minority report from the Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee. I move:

That the report be published.

Motion agreed to.

 Gaelle BROAD (Northern Victoria) (13:09): I move:

That the Council take note of the report.

I want to draw the attention of this chamber to the minority report in the Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee’s report, specifically in reference to the Planning Amendment (Better Decisions Made Faster) Bill 2025. We certainly question the title of that bill. This bill weakens voices in our local communities, it impacts on the role of Parliament in reviewing amendments and other decisions in Victoria’s planning system and it removes the principles of natural justice in planning panels, and the statement of compatibility and the second-reading speech really fail to adequately address these issues.

The bill will extinguish the basic right of people to lodge objections to applications for permits in all situations of type 1 and type 2. Yes, we need more housing in this state – that is for sure – but there is certainly a better way to do it. This government has a habit of overreach and overriding local communities and limiting the role of Parliament in the exercise of scrutiny. So I really encourage members to have a look at the minority report in this report.