Status
On this page:
The Planning Amendment (Better Decisions Made Faster) Act 2026 (the Reform Act)
The Reform Act amended Part 6 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 (the PE Act) to enforce the PE Act more effectively.
New offences and enforcement orders have been introduced, along with substantial increases to penalties for breaches of the PE Act, the Planning and Environment Interim Regulations 2026 (the PE Regulations), or planning schemes.
Increase to general penalties
Section 127 of the PE Act sets out that ‘general penalties’ can be issued to a person guilty of an offence that does not carry a specified penalty in the PE Act.
These penalties have been increased, and are now:
- For natural persons, up to 1,200 penalty units or up to 10 years’ imprisonment, or both
- For bodies corporate, up to 6,000 penalty units.
General penalties can also be issued if the contravention of the PE Act or the failure to comply with any relevant order, planning scheme, planning permit, or section 173 agreement is of a continuing nature. These penalties can be issued for every day that the contravention or failure continues after conviction:
- For natural persons, up to 120 penalty units per day, and
- For bodies corporate, up to 600 penalty units per day.
The definition of ‘a person’ includes both a natural person and a body corporate.
Identity cards
Authorised officers are now required to carry an identify card and produce it on request when exercising the powers of an authorised officer.
The identify card must:
- identify the holder as an authorised officer of the responsible authority or Department of Transport and Planning
- contain a photograph of the authorised officer
- contain the name of the authorised officer.
It is a requirement of the PE Act that the identity card be issued by a responsible authority or the Department of Transport and Planning (as relevant) to the authorised officer.
Information requests for the purpose of giving notice or serving an order
There are occasions where a planning authority or responsible authority does not know the name or residence of the owner or occupier of land who is to be served with a notice or order under the PE Act.
Where requested to do so by a planning authority or responsible authority, there is now a requirement for a municipal council to provide that information.
A planning authority or the responsible authority must not use or keep details of the name or residence of an owner or occupier of land except for the purposes of giving notice or serving an order under the PE Act.
Page last updated: 06/08/26