Mark Speakman
NSW Leader of the Opposition
Dugald Saunders
Leader of the NSW Nationals
Shadow Minister for Regional NSW
Scott Farlow Shadow Minister for Planning and Public Spaces
Shadow Minister for Housing
The NSW Opposition has 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 Coalition 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.
This reform began when the Leader of the Opposition Mark Speakman, Leader of the NSW Nationals Dugald Saunders, and Shadow Minister for Planning Scott Farlow wrote to the Premier and the Minister for Planning in December 2024 offering bipartisanship and cooperation to get meaningful reform done.
The NSW Liberals and Nationals first tried to deliver changes like these back in 2013, when the Coalition's Planning Bill 2013, introduced by then Minister for Planning Brad Hazzard, 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 Opposition welcomes 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.
Leader of the Opposition Mark Speakman said this is a reform that should have happened years ago.
"We offered bipartisanship last December because housing is too important for politics. Our priority is to make it easier for anyone to find a home, not harder through more red tape or delay," Mr Speakman said.
NSW 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.
Shadow Minister for Planning Scott Farlow said the Coalition first tried to fix this system in 2013.
"We welcome the passage of the Bill, but the real measure will be delivery, homes on the ground, not headlines in a press release," Mr Farlow said.
Between now and the 2027 election, the NSW Liberals and 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.
