State Policies

State Policies represent the government's overarching position on certain policy matters and may contain matters relating to one or more of the following:

• sustainable development of natural and physical resources; land use planning; land management; environmental management; environment protection; and
• any other matter that may be prescribed.

A State Policy must:

• must seek to further the objectives set out in Schedule 1 of the State Policies and Projects Act 1993 (the Act); and may be made only where there is, in the opinion of the Minister, a matter of State significance to be dealt with in the State Policy; and must seek to ensure that a consistent and co-ordinated approach is maintained throughout the State with respect to the matters contained in the State Policy; and
• must incorporate the minimum amount of regulation necessary to obtain its objectives.

The Commission is required to prepare a report on a draft State Policy or a draft amendment to a State Policy that has been submitted to it by the Minister. Such a report is prepared after the Commission has assessed the draft State Policy by placing the draft on public exhibition, inviting representations and conducting a hearing (if required).

Once a State Policy has been reviewed by the Commission and a report forwarded to the Minister, it must be approved by both Houses of Parliament before taking effect.  It then is administered by the appropriate agency and the Commission's involvement in it ceases.

Refer to the assessment process flowchart for details of the process.

State Policies are part of the Tasmanian Resource Management and Planning System (RMPS) and the local government planning system.  Further information about the RMPS is contained in A guide to the RMPS.

Current Direction

• Draft State Coastal Policy 2008

Current Assessments

Current State Policies

• Tasmanian Coastal Policy 1996
• State Policy on the Protection of Agricultural Land 2009
• State Policy on Water Quality Management 1997
• National Environment Protection Measures (NEPM)

Finalised Reports

The Commission's reports are available on request.

• Amendments to the State Coastal Policy 1996 (May 2009)
• Report on the Draft State Policy on the Protection of Agricultural Land 2007
• Amendment to the State Coastal Policy 1996 (January 2009)
• Report on the proposed amendments to the State Policy on Water Quality Management 1997, September 2002
• State Policy on the Protection of Agricultural Land 2000
• State Policy on Water Quality Management 1997
• Tasmanian Coastal Policy 1996