Parliament Passes Sustainable Planning and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2012

Introduction

On 13 November 2012, the Sustainable Planning and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2012 (Bill) was passed by the Queensland Parliament. The Bill was first introduced on 13 September 2012 and proposed seven key reforms to the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 (SPA).

Following its introduction, the Bill was referred to the State Development, Infrastructure and Industry Committee (Committee) which was tasked with liaising with stakeholders and preparing a report for Parliament.

Committee report and recommendations

A total of 124 stakeholder submissions were received by the Committee. Interestingly, of those submissions, all but two made representations in relation to the proposed change to the Planning and Environment Court's costs regime. This has easily been the most controversial of the Bill's proposed reforms.