The NSW Nationals have welcomed the passage of the Planning System Reform Bill 2025, recognising the need for a modern, faster and fairer planning system to help address the housing crisis that continues to put pressure on families, renters, and first home buyers across the state.
To improve the legislation, The Nationals worked constructively with the government to move and support amendments in response to concerns from the community about transparency, community consultation, and the assessment of large-scale non-residential projects.
While cost of living remains the biggest challenge for households under Labor, both federally and at a state level, the housing crisis is just as urgent. It affects young people trying to buy their first home, families looking to upgrade, and renters struggling to find a place they can afford.
The NSW Nationals first tried to deliver changes like these back in 2013.
The Planning Bill 2013 sought to simplify planning approvals, speed up housing supply, and create a more transparent system.
That reform was blocked in the Upper House by Labor, the Greens and the Shooters Party, who teamed up to frustrate progress and run scare campaigns about overdevelopment.
The NSW Nationals welcome this Bill 12 years later because housing supply matters, but it's not enough to pass legislation. The real test will be delivering affordable homes in the right places, backed by schools, roads and public transport, with urgent addressing of record state government taxes and charges and ramping up the supply of skilled labour.
Nationals Leader Dugald Saunders said regional areas need fast-tracked solutions to help deliver on the demand they are seeing.
"Housing is in short supply across regional NSW and we need a system that supports the growth and prosperity of our towns and cities, along with the infrastructure to match," Mr Saunders said.
Between now and the 2027 election, The Nationals will continue to unveil a series of new housing, infrastructure and planning policies to get NSW moving again, making home ownership achievable, making renting fairer, and helping every generation to find a place to call home.
