Family First upper house candidate Jane Foreman has condemned the Allan Labor Government for its "heavy-handed abuse of power" in overriding local councils and sidelining community voices through its fast-track planning scheme.
Ms Foreman said the government's Development Facilitation Program, which allows major projects to bypass councils and community consultation, was a direct attack on local democracy.
"Calling in projects should be a last resort — not standard practice," Ms Foreman said.
"Local people should never be disenfranchised from decisions that shape their own neighbourhoods. Yet that's exactly what Labor is doing."
Under the scheme, projects can be approved by the planning minister without council consent, with no right of appeal — a move critics say strips communities of their voice.
"This is not consultation — it's imposition," Ms Foreman said.
"Labor's long record of centralising power has eroded trust, and this is just another example of a government determined to crush local communities rather than listen to them."
Ms Foreman said the changes undermined the fundamental role of local government.
"Australia has three tiers of government for a reason. Local councils exist to reflect the character, needs and aspirations of their communities," she said.
"It is not the role of a state government to ride roughshod over councils and dictate outcomes from Spring Street."
Family First opposes the expansion of these planning powers and will fight to restore proper community input and council authority.
"If elected, Family First will champion the rights of local councils and stand up for residents who are being shut out of decisions that directly affect their lives," Ms Foreman said.
"Communities deserve a voice — not a bureaucratic rubber stamp from a distant minister."
