Member for Pittwater Jacqui Scruby has slammed both Labor and the Liberal Party for refusing to support the Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Bushfire Protection) Bill 2025, introduced by Member for Wakehurst Michael Regan, warning both major parties are doubling down on a “housing at all costs” agenda while ignoring escalating bushfire risk, rising insurance costs and the economic consequences of building in high-risk areas.
Member for Wakehurst, Michael Regan highlighted the need to prevent developments in bushfire areas like Lizard Rock that last election had bipartisan support and now sees both Liberal and Labor backflipping.
Michael Regan: “The Liberals have a history of flip flopping their position on the Patyegarang (Lizard Rock) subdivision. This vote today against stronger bushfire protections which would help stop it (and others in the future) is further proof they can’t be trusted on this issue.” Mr Regan said.
Ms Scruby focused on the broader implications of the bill, including rising home insurance costs and both major parties showing their ‘develop at any cost’ agenda.
“This bill has caused the Liberals to join Labor in doubling down on pro-developer planning laws, which include accelerated pathways for low and mid rise like in Mona Vale.
"Already in Pittwater pockets are suffering from double digit home insurance, we should not be locking in more risk and skyrocketing costs for all home owners, but especially those in high risk areas,” said Ms Scruby.
“Northern Beaches LGA has recently had a disaster declaration and by the NSW Government’s own analysis faces the highest average annual losses from extreme weather by 2060 at nearly $1 billion per annum - and we must heed that reality. New buildings in known high bushfire risk areas and floodplains is costly stupidity.”
Ms Scruby was the only member in the debate to call out the economic cost to households and the economy of continuing to build in high-risk bushfire and flood risk areas, which the RBA has recognised as a key driver of inflation.
“In 2022 National Cabinet committed to implementing land-use changes to avoid building in floodplains and bushfire risk areas. One of the major levers we have for putting downward pressure on home insurance and the cost of disaster recovery is to stop embedding future risk.”
“Yet here we are, four years later, with both major parties pushing ahead with a housing-at-any-cost agenda, even when that cost is so high to the economy, cost of living and human life.”
“This is not just a human and property safety issue but an economic and cost of living issue.”