Save Victoria Park’s Response to DSDIP Report on POLA Bill Submissions

21 June

Written By Victoria Park Residents Action Group

What is the POLA Bill?

The POLA Bill refers to the Planning (Social Impact Assessment and Community Benefit) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024, introduced by the Queensland State Government. While it might sound like a bill aimed at improving community engagement, in practice, it’s highly controversial - especially among planning experts, environmental groups and First Nations advocates.

At its core, the POLA Bill would give the State Government the power to override more than 15 existing laws that currently govern:

Environmental protections
Planning and development approvals
Cultural heritage laws
Community consultation requirements

It’s being framed by the State Government as a way to "streamline" development for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games, to fast-track infrastructure like stadiums, aquatic centres and transport upgrades.

However, the Bill is controversial as it:

Strips community rights: it reduces or removes the rights of local communities to object to or even be informed about major developments in their neighbourhoods.
Weakens cultural heritage protections: it drastically shortens consultation windows with First Nations communities and allows projects to bypass heritage laws.
Environmental concerns: it enables development on public parklands and sensitive areas, with reduced environmental impact assessments.
Inconsistent standards: ironically, the bill demands more consultation for renewable energy projects, while Olympic developments, like the proposed stadiums in Victoria Park / Barrambin can proceed with minimal scrutiny.

Critics argue that the POLA Bill sets a dangerous precedent, one where major state-backed developments can bypass democratic processes, accountability and long-standing laws designed to protect nature, culture and community.

Many advocacy groups, including the Queensland Conservation Council, the Queensland Law Society, First Nations elders and Save Victoria Park, have spoken out against it.