Should Victoria reverse its 2025–26 planning changes that require councils to approve new homes meeting state standards and limit neighbours' appeals?
Reversing the 2025–26 fast-approval planning changes
Both houses · 4 votes
Background
From 2025 the Government changed planning rules to speed up housing approvals. New state codes for townhouses (VC267) and buildings of four to six storeys (VC300), and new controls for 25 activity centres around train and tram stations (GC270), mean projects that meet the standards must be approved and cannot be challenged at VCAT (the planning tribunal) by objectors; in the activity centres some applications do not need to be advertised. The Better Decisions Made Faster Bill 2025 also limited objectors' VCAT appeals to those directly notified about the largest applications. Council motions to revoke the codes and activity-centre controls were defeated.
What each side said
Summarised from the debate in Parliament, with sources below.
For “agree”
Supporters of reversal said the changes were imposed without proper consultation, threaten heritage and tree cover, stop councils applying local policy and take away communities' say: "Local communities should have a say" (David Davis, Liberal, 16 Oct 2024); "This bill, sadly, has been rushed" (Richard Riordan, Liberal). The Shooters, One Nation and Moira Deeming (now Family First) voted with them.
For “disagree”
The Government said slow approvals and appeals add cost and delay to new homes, and that neighbours are still notified under the townhouse and mid-rise codes: "Our focus in this place needs to be on building homes, not blocking them" (Sheena Watt, ALP). The Greens criticised the townhouse code for removing third-party appeal rights and said "communities and councils should have more say in planning decisions", but opposed revocation as a blunt tool the Government would simply re-make; they backed the bill after winning an affordable-housing contribution power and an advisory committee of councils and planners to review the codes (Sarah Mansfield); Legalise Cannabis voted against the bill but did not support revoking the codes, and the Libertarian said "the only solution to the housing crisis is to build more homes" (David Limbrick). Animal Justice also voted on this side.
How the parties voted
Across the linked votes below. Second and third readings count five times as much as other votes. Parties are in alphabetical order. How this is worked out
| Party | Record | Votes with a party position |
|---|---|---|
| Animal Justice | Consistently against | 3 of 3 |
| Greens | Consistently against | 3 of 4 |
| Labor | Consistently against | 4 of 4 |
| Legalise Cannabis | Generally for | 3 of 3 |
| Liberal | Consistently for | 4 of 4 |
| Libertarian | Consistently against | 3 of 3 |
| Nationals | Consistently for | 4 of 4 |
| One Nation | Consistently for | 2 of 3 |
| Shooters, Fishers and Farmers | Consistently for | 3 of 3 |
The votes behind this question
Each vote (division) recorded in Parliament that this question is based on, in date order.
14 May 2025 · Legislative Council
Revocation Of Victoria Planning Provisions Planning Scheme Amendments Vc257 And Vc267
- Question put
- 11 REVOCATION OF VICTORIA PLANNING PROVISIONS PLANNING SCHEME AMENDMENTS VC257 AND VC267 — David Davis moved, That this House —
- Result
- Question negatived. Ayes 15, Noes 22.
- Matches “agree”
- An Aye vote
- Weight
- Normal
- Why it's linked
- Council motion moved by David Davis. Aye = support the motion; agree = Aye.
| Party | Aye | No | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Justice | 0 | 1 | No |
| Greens | 0 | 4 | No |
| Labor | 0 | 14 | No |
| Legalise Cannabis | 0 | 2 | No |
| Liberal | 11 | 0 | Aye |
| Libertarian | 0 | 1 | No |
| Nationals | 2 | 0 | Aye |
| One Nation | 1 | 0 | Aye |
| Shooters, Fishers and Farmers | 1 | 0 | Aye |
Every name (Ayes 15, Noes 22) in the vote of 14 May 2025
Ayes (15)
Melina Bath, Jeff Bourman, Gaelle Broad, Georgie Crozier, David Davis, Moira Deeming, Ann-Marie Hermans, Wendy Lovell, Trung Luu, Bev McArthur, Joe McCracken, Nick McGowan, Evan Mulholland, Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell, Richard Welch
Noes (22)
Ryan Batchelor, John Berger, Lizzie Blandthorn, Katherine Copsey, Enver Erdogan, Jacinta Ermacora, David Ettershank, Michael Galea, Anasina Gray-Barberio, Shaun Leane, David Limbrick, Sarah Mansfield, Tom McIntosh, Rachel Payne, Aiv Puglielli, Georgie Purcell, Harriet Shing, Jaclyn Symes, Lee Tarlamis, Sonja Terpstra, Gayle Tierney, Sheena Watt
Official record: Minutes of the Proceedings Nos. 113, 114 and 115 (LC-60-114-01)
14 November 2025 · Legislative Assembly
Planning Amendment (Better Decisions Made Faster) Bill 2025
- Question put
- Question — That this Bill be now read a second time and a third time — put.
- Result
- Question agreed to. Ayes 52, Noes 27.
- Matches “agree”
- A No vote
- Weight
- Strong: a second or third reading, counted five times
- Why it's linked
- Second and third reading (Assembly). Aye = support the bill; agree = No.
| Party | Aye | No | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greens | 0 | 0 | Did not vote |
| Labor | 51 | 0 | Aye |
| Liberal | 0 | 18 | No |
| Nationals | 0 | 9 | No |
Independents, each counted on their own: Will Fowles (Aye)
Every name (Ayes 52, Noes 27) in the vote of 14 November 2025
Ayes (52)
Juliana Addison, Jacinta Allan, Colin Brooks, Josh Bull, Anthony Carbines, Ben Carroll, Anthony Cianflone, Sarah Connolly, Chris Couzens, Jordan Crugnale, Lily D'Ambrosio, Daniela De Martino, Steve Dimopoulos, Paul Edbrooke, Eden Foster, Will Fowles, Matt Fregon, Ella George, Luba Grigorovitch, Bronwyn Halfpenny, Katie Hall, Paul Hamer, Martha Haylett, Mathew Hilakari, Melissa Horne, Natalie Hutchins, Sonya Kilkenny, Nathan Lambert, John Lister, Gary Maas, Alison Marchant, Kathleen Matthews-Ward, Steve McGhie, Paul Mercurio, John Mullahy, Pauline Richards, Tim Richardson, Michaela Settle, Ros Spence, Nick Staikos, Natalie Suleyman, Meng Heang Tak, Jackson Taylor, Nina Taylor, Kat Theophanous, Mary-Anne Thomas, Emma Vulin, Iwan Walters, Vicki Ward, Dylan Wight, Gabrielle Williams, Belinda Wilson
Noes (27)
Brad Battin, Jade Benham, Roma Britnell, Tim Bull, Martin Cameron, Annabelle Cleeland, Chris Crewther, Wayne Farnham, Matthew Guy, David Hodgett, Emma Kealy, Tim McCurdy, Cindy McLeish, James Newbury, Danny O'Brien, Michael O'Brien, Kim O'Keeffe, John Pesutto, Richard Riordan, Brad Rowswell, David Southwick, Bridget Vallence, Peter Walsh, Kim Wells, Nicole Werner, Rachel Westaway, Jess Wilson
Official record: Votes and Proceedings Nos 150 to 152 (LA-60-152-01)
9 December 2025 · Legislative Council
Planning Amendment (Better Decisions Made Faster) Bill 2025
- Question put
- Harriet Shing moved, That the Bill be now read a third time and do pass.
- Result
- Question agreed to. Ayes 20, Noes 16.
- Matches “agree”
- A No vote
- Weight
- Strong: a second or third reading, counted five times
- Why it's linked
- Third reading (Council). Aye = support the bill; agree = No.
| Party | Aye | No | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Justice | 1 | 0 | Aye |
| Greens | 4 | 0 | Aye |
| Labor | 14 | 0 | Aye |
| Legalise Cannabis | 0 | 2 | No |
| Liberal | 0 | 11 | No |
| Libertarian | 1 | 0 | Aye |
| Nationals | 0 | 2 | No |
| One Nation | 0 | 0 | Did not vote |
| Shooters, Fishers and Farmers | 0 | 1 | No |
Every name (Ayes 20, Noes 16) in the vote of 9 December 2025
Ayes (20)
Ryan Batchelor, John Berger, Lizzie Blandthorn, Katherine Copsey, Enver Erdogan, Jacinta Ermacora, Michael Galea, Anasina Gray-Barberio, Shaun Leane, David Limbrick, Sarah Mansfield, Tom McIntosh, Aiv Puglielli, Georgie Purcell, Harriet Shing, Ingrid Stitt, Jaclyn Symes, Lee Tarlamis, Sonja Terpstra, Gayle Tierney
Noes (16)
Melina Bath, Jeff Bourman, Gaelle Broad, Georgie Crozier, David Davis, David Ettershank, Renee Heath, Ann-Marie Hermans, Wendy Lovell, Trung Luu, Bev McArthur, Joe McCracken, Nick McGowan, Evan Mulholland, Rachel Payne, Richard Welch
Official record: Minutes of the Proceedings No. 149 (LC-60-149-02)
3 June 2026 · Legislative Council
Revocation Of Planning Scheme Amendments Gc270 And Vc300
- Question put
- 9 REVOCATION OF PLANNING SCHEME AMENDMENTS GC270 AND VC300 — David Davis moved, That this House —
- Result
- Question negatived. Ayes 16, Noes 23.
- Matches “agree”
- An Aye vote
- Weight
- Normal
- Why it's linked
- Council motion moved by David Davis. Aye = support the motion; agree = Aye.
| Party | Aye | No | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Justice | 0 | 1 | No |
| Greens | 0 | 4 | No |
| Labor | 0 | 15 | No |
| Legalise Cannabis | 0 | 2 | No |
| Liberal | 12 | 0 | Aye |
| Libertarian | 0 | 1 | No |
| Nationals | 2 | 0 | Aye |
| One Nation | 1 | 0 | Aye |
| Shooters, Fishers and Farmers | 1 | 0 | Aye |
Every name (Ayes 16, Noes 23) in the vote of 3 June 2026
Ayes (16)
Melina Bath, Jeff Bourman, Gaelle Broad, Georgie Crozier, David Davis, Moira Deeming, Renee Heath, Ann-Marie Hermans, Wendy Lovell, Trung Luu, Bev McArthur, Joe McCracken, Nick McGowan, Evan Mulholland, Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell, Richard Welch
Noes (23)
Ryan Batchelor, John Berger, Lizzie Blandthorn, Katherine Copsey, Enver Erdogan, Jacinta Ermacora, David Ettershank, Michael Galea, Anasina Gray-Barberio, Shaun Leane, David Limbrick, Sarah Mansfield, Tom McIntosh, Rachel Payne, Aiv Puglielli, Georgie Purcell, Harriet Shing, Ingrid Stitt, Jaclyn Symes, Lee Tarlamis, Sonja Terpstra, Gayle Tierney, Sheena Watt
Official record: Minutes of the Proceedings Nos. 167, 168 and 169 (LC-60-168-01)
Sources
- EM
- Second reading (Sonya Kilkenny (Minister for Planning), 2025-10-29)
- Opposition (Richard Riordan (opposition lead speaker), 2025-11-13)
- Crossbench (Gabrielle de Vietri, GRN)
- Crossbench (Gabrielle de Vietri (on Council amendments), GRN)
- News: Bendigo Advertiser (ACM) (2025-10-30); Government News (2025-10-31); Geelong Times (Times News Group) (2025-10-31)
- Full list: Sources tab (44 items).
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