Consumer and Planning Legislation Amendment (Housing Statement Reform) Act 2025

The Consumer and Planning Legislation Amendment (Housing Statement Reform) Act 2025 (Vic) 

CPLA Act is scheduled to commence on or before 25 November 2025. The CPLA Act changes provisions of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 (Vic) and the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 1998 (Vic).

Among others, these changes enable the Tribunal to:

• Give a summary of the key bases for the Tribunal affirming or varying the decision in a proceeding for review of a decision under planning enactment where the Tribunal affirms of varies the decision in a proceeding for review of the decision.
• Treat two or more objectors as a group and appoint one or more of those objectors as a representative of the group.
• Actively manage proceedings through various measures including:
  • Conducting all or part of a proceeding entirely on the basis of documents.
  • Imposing a time limit on a party for making submissions. 
  • Prohibiting or limiting cross-examination of a witness at a hearing.
  • Fixing timetables for hearings.
  • Using appropriate dispute resolution.
  • Giving directions to ensure that a proceeding is conducted promptly and efficiently.
  • Identifying at an early stage the issues involved in a proceeding.
  • Striking out or dismissing all or any part of the proceeding that in the Tribunal's opinion lacks substantive or objective merit and has no real prospect of success.
  • Confining the proceeding to particular matters in dispute.

The Planning and Environment Division is currently working on a process for integrating these active management approaches as appropriate in the cases before it.

Updates will be provided in due course.

Parties should, however, anticipate that processes and procedures in accordance with the provisions of the CPLA Act may be utilised in applications lodged after the CPLA Act commences.