Brisbane City Council is calling on suburban pubs to help address a critical shortage of hotel rooms ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The new initiative, dubbed the Suburban Pub Stays Strategy, aims to encourage pub owners and operators to deliver new accommodation and function spaces by utilising large, underutilised sites in the suburbs.   The strategy includes considering planning changes to make it easier for pub owners and operators to build hotel rooms and conference facilities. This push is crucial for the city’s visitor economy; south-east Queensland currently has 46,000 hotel rooms, which is significantly less than the supply found in cities like Los Angeles (120,000) and Paris (133,000), according to a Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) report.   Currently, about 70 Brisbane pubs are situated on sites measuring 2000 square metres or more, yet only 15 of these sites currently support accommodation. The Council estimates that by redeveloping just 20 suburban pubs, more than 1,600 new rooms could be added to Brisbane’s hotel supply, supporting local jobs and businesses.   Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner explained the initiative as “going back to the future,” aiming to bring back a time when suburban pubs commonly offered rooms upstairs. “It’s a simple idea that will help provide more places for families and friends to stay, right near the people they love,” Schrinner said. He also stressed that the strategy aims to strike the right balance by encouraging hotel rooms in appropriate areas while ensuring suburban homes remain available on the long-term rental market.   The need for new hotel investment is urgent, as Property Council research shows a 90 per cent drop in new hotel rooms over the past five years. Hotel construction in Brisbane fell by 90 per cent between 2019 and 2024, partly due to a 40 per cent increase in construction costs and reduced demand during COVID-19.   The suburban pub model offers a viable alternative, as smaller-scale projects can be delivered more affordably and faster than larger inner-city projects. The redevelopment of The Brook Hotel, for instance, was completed in just over a year at a cost of approximately $25 million, demonstrating strong demand for suburban accommodation. The Glen Hotel is also undergoing a major $30 million-plus redevelopment, which will deliver more than 100 five-star hotel rooms. Brian and Cathy Fitzgibbons of The Glen Hotel stated that Council’s support and the Suburban Pub Stays Strategy provide operators with the confidence to invest and “dream bigger and act sooner”.   Industry figures have lauded the strategy as a necessary step. Ross Elliott of Suburban Futures noted that this initiative is a genuine long-term legacy opportunity that allows the suburbs to offer a solution to the accommodation problem. Jess Caire, Executive Director of the Property Council, called the strategy “a great example of how local government can partner with the private sector to deliver the hotel rooms Brisbane needs”. QTIC CEO Natassia Wheeler welcomed the initiative, highlighting that the accommodation shortfall is one of the most pressing constraints on the visitor economy.   Bernie Hogan, CEO of the Queensland Hotels Association, concluded that targeted initiatives like this, coupled with existing planning regulation, can help ensure that all suburbs of Brisbane are great places to live for locals while also providing accommodation for city guests.   Pub operators, industry representatives, and residents are encouraged to share their feedback on the Suburban Pub Stays Strategy before 28 February 2026 by searching for the plan via www.brisbane.qld.gov.au.  

A new report has identified Brisbane as having the worst traffic in Australia, with the average commuter spending a staggering 81 hours—the equivalent of two full working weeks—stuck in congestion last year.   The finding comes from the 2025 Global Traffic Scorecard, a report that provides a granular and holistic analysis of mobility across more than 900 cities worldwide. The Scorecard utilizes up-to-date, observed commute trips to analyze travel behavior and provides travel delay comparisons, commuting trends, and information on the costs of congestion.   While Brisbane’s congestion figures are grim, the city did mark a slight overall improvement compared to the previous year, when it broke into the global top 10. Brisbane saw a 4% decrease in hours spent in traffic compared to the prior year. Average peak-hour speeds saw a modest lift, rising from 34km/h last year to 37km/h this year.   However, the final kilometer into the Central Business District (CBD) during the crucial morning commute showed minimal improvement, inching up from 27km/h to just 29km/h in 2025.   Nationally, Brisbane’s lead in congestion is significant. Melbourne ranked a distant second nationally, placing 23rd worldwide. Brisbane’s 81 hours lost places it among several highly congested international cities. Globally, Brisbane’s congestion, while severe for Australia, remains less extreme than the world’s most gridlocked areas. The top spots for congestion were held by Istanbul, Türkiye (118 hours lost), Mexico City, Mexico (108 hours lost), and Chicago, USA (112 hours lost).   The 2025 Global Traffic Scorecard highlights that traffic congestion occurs when the demand for roadway travel exceeds the available supply. This situation forces drivers, freight movers, and bus riders to lose time and spend fuel unproductively, contributing to the economic cost of congestion.

Pioneering research highlights how sophisticated financial abuse tactics leave victim-survivors facing bankruptcy, homelessness, and debts reaching millions.   A new national study has exposed a significant policy blind spot, revealing how business structures are being weaponized to perpetrate financial abuse, trapping women in crippling debt and leading to long-term economic hardship. The research highlights how women in heterosexual relationships are disproportionately the targets of this abuse.   The study, the first national analysis of its kind, was conducted in collaboration with the Economic Abuse Reference Group, Associate Professor Vivien Chen of Monash Business School, and Jasmine Opdam, Senior Policy and Advocacy Officer at Redfern Legal Centre’s Financial Abuse Service NSW. It set out to fill a knowledge gap regarding how company structures are exploited to cause harm.   Victim-survivors are frequently left with huge financial liabilities, sometimes amounting to millions of dollars, after being unknowingly or forcibly trapped in their ex-partner’s business affairs. Frontline professionals interviewed for the study described a consistent pattern of coercive tactics, including forged signatures, digital impersonation, or secretly installing victim-survivors as company directors. In many instances, the women only discovered these debts after being contacted by private debt collectors or the Australian Tax Office.   No Safeguards for Business Debt   A critical finding of the study is that, unlike consumer credit, business lending falls outside many of the legal protections designed to safeguard borrowers.   “Victim-survivors of coerced business debt don’t have access to free dispute resolution or hardship relief like they would with consumer debt,” explained Jasmine Opdam. She noted that business creditors are not legally required to have hardship policies, and the complex business structures victims are trapped in are costly and complex to unravel.   Associate Professor Vivien Chen stated that while Australia has progressed in addressing financial abuse through consumer credit reforms, there has been little recognition of how tax and company systems can also be exploited. “We need to treat coerced business debt as a serious form of economic abuse and design safeguards to reflect that reality,” she added.   Life-Altering Consequences   The consequences of this abuse are often life-altering, resulting in bankruptcy, homelessness, and ruined credit histories. For many, the severe mental health impacts leave them unable to work or regain financial independence.   Ms. Opdam emphasized that family violence is one of the leading causes of homelessness among women, and financial abuse traps victim-survivors in a cycle of poverty, sometimes leading to devastating psychological toll that prevents recovery.   The hardships are illustrated by the case of Monique (name changed for privacy), who discovered she was a director of her estranged husband’s shop after being chased by creditors for business loans, despite never signing any documents. Monique, who had no assets and was relying on Centrelink payments of about $600 a fortnight, was served a bankruptcy notice for an $85,000 debt. Before contacting help, she had withdrawn her entire superannuation, about $30,000, to try and pay the debt.   Calls for Urgent Reform   The research calls for urgent reform to ensure that victim-survivors are not left to carry the burden of debts they never chose to take on.   Key recommendations include: Tightening safeguards in the ABN and director registration processes. Extending consumer-style protections to small business lending. Reforming corporation and tax laws to recognize that directors may be prevented from managing companies due to family violence. Developing family violence policies, modeled on the Australian Banking Association’s guidelines, to encourage business creditors to respond constructively.  

Queensland is grappling with a severe deterioration in road safety, recording a 75% increase in fatalities involving unlicensed drivers since 2019, an alarming figure signaling a major shift in the state’s road safety culture post-COVID.   In 2024 alone, 42 lives were lost in crashes involving motorists without a valid license, compared to 24 deaths in 2019. The crisis extends beyond fatalities, with 752 serious injuries also involving drivers or riders lacking a valid licence.   Joel Tucker, RACQ’s Road Safety and Technical Manager, warned that the death toll could have been far worse. “Queensland is fortunate the death toll wasn’t higher in 2024, given the sheer number of serious injury crashes involving unlicensed drivers,” Mr Tucker stated.   The scale of the disregard for authority is highlighted by the fact that Queensland issued 25,135 fines for unlicensed driving last year. However, experts argue that financial penalties are insufficient to deter offenders.   “It’s clear we have a culture that openly flouts road rules – and fines alone aren’t working,” Mr Tucker emphasized.   The Deadly Risk   The sources indicate that unlicensed driving is frequently linked to extreme high-risk behaviors such as speeding, drink driving, and drug driving, which significantly increase crash severity.   This deadly risk is demonstrated in hospitalization data. When looking at crashes involving unlicensed drivers, the ratio worsened to one death for every 18 hospitalizations, compared to the general crash ratio of one death for every 28 people hospitalized. This stark comparison underscores the danger these drivers pose to the public.   Call for Tougher Enforcement   RACQ is pushing for immediate legislative changes to address repeat offenders. Mr Tucker questioned why vehicles are not being impounded, stating, “If people have lost their licence, or never had one, we cannot allow them to keep driving – why aren’t we impounding or immobilising these vehicles?”.   Through its Get Serious on Road Safety campaign, RACQ is calling for increased police visibility and tougher enforcement, including stronger impoundment and immobilisation laws for repeat offenders.   “Driving without a licence isn’t just a legal issue – it’s a major risk to the lives of Queenslanders,” said Mr Tucker. He further argued that the Government needs to take stronger action to stop extreme and repeat offenders from getting behind the wheel to reduce the risk of unlicensed driving.   The current unlicensed driving trend contributes to the state’s overall road safety crisis. So far in 2025, 282 lives have been lost on Queensland roads, putting the state on track to record the highest overall road toll in 16 years as the holiday season rapidly approaches.  

The Queensland Government has unveiled new legislation to strengthen youth bail monitoring, promising tougher laws and expanded GPS tracking to curb youth reoffending across the state.   Introduced to Parliament today, the Youth Justice (Electronic Monitoring) Amendment Bill 2025 will make electronic monitoring a permanent feature of the state’s justice system and extend its use to more youth offenders. The government says the reforms are aimed at “restoring safety where you live” by holding young offenders accountable and reducing the number of victims of crime.   Youth Justice and Victim Support Minister Laura Gerber said the measures deliver on the Crisafulli Government’s election commitment to strengthen youth crime laws.   “We promised Queenslanders we would continue to strengthen our youth crime laws, and that’s exactly what we are doing,” Minister Gerber said.“Under Adult Crime, Adult Time, youth offenders now face serious consequences for their actions, and these reforms are another step to reduce reoffending and victim numbers.”   According to the government, GPS electronic monitoring has been shown to reduce reoffending by up to 24 per cent. The new legislation comes after two earlier Labor government trials, which critics say saw limited results, with only four young offenders fitted with tracking devices during the first year.   Minister Gerber said the new approach would combine tougher laws with early intervention and rehabilitation programs to address both prevention and accountability. “The Crisafulli Government is cleaning up Labor’s mess and delivering tough youth crime laws alongside early intervention and rehabilitation programs to make Queensland safer,” she said.   The government argues that the former Labor administration weakened Queensland’s youth crime policies by treating detention as a last resort and abolishing breach of bail as an offence — decisions it says contributed to the rise in repeat youth offending.   The expanded GPS monitoring reforms form part of the government’s broader youth justice plan involving additional police resources, community programs, and increased victim support services.

In a landmark moment for reconciliation and truth-telling, the Victorian Government is set to deliver a formal apology to Aboriginal Victorians in Parliament today, marking a pivotal step in the state’s journey toward a Statewide Treaty.   This morning’s apology, led by Premier Jacinta Allan, is not just symbolic; it fulfills a key recommendation from the Yoorrook Justice Commission—the nation’s first truth-telling inquiry into systemic injustices against First Peoples. The move signals a formal acknowledgment of the state’s historical role in the dispossession, displacement, and trauma inflicted upon Aboriginal communities through past laws and policies.   A “Reset” for Relations   The apology serves as one of the first major public acts following the ratification of Victoria’s historic Treaty agreement last month. It is described by First Nations leaders as a necessary “reset” of the relationship between the government and Aboriginal Victorians—moving away from a legacy of paternalism toward a partnership grounded in self-determination.   “We are addressing the injustices of the past to build a better future for all Victorians, grounded in mutual respect and understanding,” Premier Allan stated ahead of the parliamentary sitting.   The First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, the democratically elected body representing Traditional Owners, has worked closely with the government to negotiate the terms of this apology. For many community elders and leaders, today represents the culmination of decades of advocacy and resilience.   Political Divide Remains   While the day is one of solemn reflection for many, it has also highlighted political fault lines. The Victorian Opposition, led by Jess Wilson, has confirmed it will not support the motion in its current form. The Coalition has cited objections to the inclusion of Treaty-specific language in the apology, maintaining their vow to repeal the Treaty legislation if elected in 2026.   Despite this lack of bipartisan support, the government has remained firm, stating that the necessity of acknowledging past wrongs transcends political cycles.   Echoes of History   Today’s apology joins a timeline of significant moments of national reckoning, including former Premier Jeff Kennett’s 1997 apology for the removal of children and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s 2008 National Apology to the Stolen Generations. However, today’s statement is unique in its breadth—addressing not just child removal, but the full spectrum of colonial violence and systemic exclusion identified by the Yoorrook inquiry.   Where to Watch   The apology will be broadcast live from the Victorian Parliament starting at 11:00 AM today. Community viewings are being held at Aboriginal organizations and schools across the state, inviting all Victorians to witness this historic step toward healing.  

The Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland (ECCQ) has announced the opening of applications for two significant scholarship opportunities designed to support and advance culturally diverse women residing in Queensland,. Developed in partnership with local leaders, professionals, and businesses, these scholarships aim to provide financial aid, educational assistance, and mentorship to culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) women looking to advance their leadership skills and chosen professions,.   The scholarships recognize the contribution of women in creating a more equitable and inclusive society. They specifically address the complex barriers that culturally diverse women face, including Australia’s persistent gender pay gap and underrepresentation in leadership roles,.   General Eligibility and Deadline   All applicants must identify as female, reside in Queensland, and be culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD),. The term CALD is broadly used to describe a person who may natively speak a language other than English, or identify with an ethnic background, nationality, cultural tradition, or religion different from the majority community of Australia, including both migrants and second-generation migrants,.   Applications opened on December 4, 2025, and will close at 11:59 pm on Saturday, February 14, 2026,. Applicants may only apply for one scholarship category,. The scholarship winners will be announced at ECCQ’s International Women’s Day Event on March 14, 2026.   Scholarship 1: Cleo Xynias Multicultural Woman of the Year   This scholarship honors Cleo Xynias, the wife of ECCQ co-founder Nick Xynias, who dedicated her life to the advancement of multicultural Australians. It is intended for women committed to making a difference and improving the lives of others from similar backgrounds.   The ideal winner should demonstrate a commitment to the advancement of Queensland’s multicultural communities and the development of their own leadership role within these communities, and may identify as an emerging leader,.   Specific eligibility requires the applicant to identify as female, be bilingual or multilingual, be born in a country other than Australia (all visa types and citizens are eligible), and reside in Queensland.   Key Prizes and Commitments: Cash Prize: A $2,000 cash prize,. Education: A full tuition-paid course valued up to $2,500 from the Australian Institute of Management (AIM),. Mentorship: A six-month mentorship (equating to 20 hours) with a professional relevant to their career path or goal, supported by Windsor Group. Community Service: In recognition of Cleo Xynias’s role in establishing Berlasco, the winner must complete 20 hours of internship or project-based work for the residents of Berlasco Residential Aged Care within one year,. This work can be remote, utilizing their personal or professional skills or interests,.     Scholarship 2: Emerging Professional Scholarship   This scholarship is specifically aimed at women who are beginning their professional career in Queensland,. It acknowledges the complex barriers that culturally diverse women face when entering professional employment.   Specific eligibility requires the applicant to identify as female, be CALD, reside and study in Queensland, and have completed a tertiary qualification within the last three years, or be set to complete one within six months of the application date.   Key Prizes:   Education: A full tuition-paid course valued up to $2,000 from AIM,. AIM offers a range of short courses, micro credentials, and non-accredited courses covering leadership, strategy, business, and communications, delivered through a combination of online and face-to-face workshops,. The winner has one year to complete the course,. Training: Credit to attend one of the Transcendence workshop trainings of choice,. The Transcendence Framework Coaching Program is designed to equip women with tools and strategies to overcome barriers and achieve their potential, focusing on areas like resilience building, emotional intelligence, and effective communication. Mentorship: A six-month mentorship (20 hours) with a professional relevant to their career path.   ECCQ encourages eligible women to carefully read the guidelines and application requirements. If any part of the application is not answered, the overall score will be significantly lower. For confirmation on eligibility or general questions, applicants can email scholarship@eccq.com.au,.  

Lake Macquarie City Council has closed out 2025 with a strong focus on gratitude, inclusion and community resilience, highlighting both recent emergency efforts and new long-term plans to strengthen unity across the city.​   Gratitude after Redhead blaze   At the final council meeting of the year, Mayor Adam Shultz opened proceedings by thanking residents and emergency services personnel who responded to a serious bushfire north of Redhead on Saturday, which threatened homes and an aged care facility. He said the community felt deep appreciation for those who worked through dangerous conditions and acknowledged neighbouring communities on the Central Coast and in Bulahdelah that suffered significant losses.​   Christmas appeal and community support   Councillors marked the meeting by placing gifts under the Christmas tree for the Mayor’s Christmas Appeal, which partners with Samaritans to support local families facing hardship during the festive season. Residents are being encouraged to donate an unwrapped gift at any Lake Mac Library branch before Friday 12 December to help ensure no one in Lake Macquarie wakes up empty-handed on Christmas morning.​   New multicultural and Aboriginal plans   Council formally adopted two major strategies aimed at building a more inclusive city: the Multicultural Lake Mac Plan 2025–2029 and the Aboriginal Community Plan 2025–2029, Bayikulinan. The plans are designed to reduce barriers, promote respect and belonging, and create opportunities for people from all backgrounds to participate fully in civic life, which the council says will strengthen social cohesion and support local economic growth.​   Governance, flood risk and environment   Councillors endorsed a Mayoral Minute outlining the process to recruit a new Chief Executive Officer, including appointing Local Government Management Solutions to assist with the search. They also adopted the Stockton and Neighbouring Creeks Flood Study, which examines flood behaviour in creeks including Morans, Stockton, Mullards, Clacks, Melaleuca and Dora to guide future flood-risk management.​   Event funding, grants and 2026 meetings   Council approved 22 event funding applications totalling $63,709, backing activities such as national windsurfing titles at Wangi, Raffertys Coastal Run 2026, a major mountain biking event at Awaba MTB Park and national surf rowing championships at Blacksmiths Beach. Four Community Environment Grants worth a combined $19,940 were also endorsed, including support for “MycoNet: The Mycelium Solution”, which will run workshops on sustainable mushroom cultivation using waste products like hemp, while council meetings in 2026 will temporarily move to Hunter Sports Centre while the administration building and chambers are offline.    

Victoria’s environmental landscape has been dealt a significant one-two punch just weeks before Christmas, with the State Government announcing the permanent closure of Sustainability Victoria and the National Sustainable Living Festival declaring a sudden hiatus for 2026.   The shake-up comes as the Allan Labor Government moves to implement the recommendations of the Independent Review of the Victorian Public Service—known as the “Silver Review”—aimed at slashing waste and tightening the public purse.   End of an Era for Sustainability Victoria   After 20 years of operation, Sustainability Victoria (SV) will be abolished, with its functions either ceased or absorbed by other departments. The decision follows the release of the Silver Review, led by former public service chief Helen Silver, which identified opportunities to reduce “waste and inefficiencies” across the public sector.   In its official response, the Victorian Government stated that the specific agency was no longer required because environmental sustainability and energy efficiency programs had now “been adopted by other Victorian government entities.”   The closure of SV is part of a broader culling of government bodies that will see 29 entities merged, absorbed, or wound down. Other casualties include:   Cladding Safety Victoria, set to close by December 2025. VicHealth, to be absorbed into the Department of Health. LaunchVic, whose functions will merge into Invest Victoria.   The overhaul will result in the reduction of 332 executive roles and over 1,000 public sector jobs in total, a move the government claims will save the budget over $4 billion across the next four years.   Writing on social media, Sustainability Victoria CEO Matt Genever confirmed the “winding down” of the organisation just months after it celebrated its 20th anniversary.   “I will never feel anything other than immense pride for the work of SV and its people,” Genever stated, noting the agency’s legacy in transforming policy into practice and diverting waste from landfill.   Festival Forced into Hiatus   Compounding the shock for the sector, the organisers of the National Sustainable Living Festival announced they would be entering a “planning hiatus” for 2026.   For a quarter of a century, the festival has been a fixture of Victoria’s cultural calendar, drawing tens of thousands of attendees annually. However, organisers revealed that the City of Melbourne had unexpectedly pulled its funding support, ending a 25-year partnership.   “This decision leaves us without a principal partner for the 2026 program,” the festival organisers said in a statement. “We are all facing a time of profound peril… and with this comes the pressing need to reinvent our approach to sustainability.”   The team indicated they would use the pause to build new relationships with partners committed to driving meaningful action.   “Lump of Coal for Christmas”   The swift dismantling of key environmental pillars has drawn sharp criticism from political opponents and community advocates.   Victorian Greens Leader Ellen Sandell slammed the government’s decision to scrap Sustainability Victoria as a cynical cost-cutting exercise in an election year.   “Jacinta Allan is compromising essential environmental programs… to make it look like the Government’s fiscal position has improved,” Sandell said, describing the cuts as a “lump of coal for Christmas that nobody asked for.”   The Greens highlighted that SV has played a critical role in helping over 1,600 schools become more sustainable and supported businesses in removing hazardous materials like asbestos.   With the state’s primary sustainability agency dissolving and its flagship environmental festival cancelled for the coming year, 2026 looms as a period of uncertainty for Victoria’s green sector.  

Brisbane City Council is moving to significantly restrain the advance of short-stay accommodation starting in 2026 through the introduction of a new permit and “three-strikes” enforcement system.   The landmark reforms are set to impact nearly 500 homes operating as short-stay accommodation in Brisbane’s suburbs, particularly those properties located in areas zoned low density and low-medium residential density. Owners of these properties will be advised to cease operating and return to the long-term rental market by June 30, 2026. They will be required to obtain appropriate development approval or cease operations by mid-next year.   Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner stated that the new law is about striking a balance between supporting tourism and protecting the peace and lifestyle of the suburbs where people live.   “These changes will help return hundreds of homes to the long-term rental market while still ensuring short stay accommodation can operate in the parts of the city where it makes sense,” Lord Mayor Schrinner said.   New Permit System Requirements and Enforcement   The reforms follow the completion of the Council’s Short Stay Accommodation Taskforce and extensive consultation. The new system aims to stamp out rogue operators whose guests frequently disturb neighbors and ensure that short-stay accommodation remains primarily in inner-city and tourism areas where it can be better regulated.   Under the new permit scheme, operators must fulfill several obligations before applying, including obtaining property owner consent, notifying their body corporate, and ensuring the property is correctly zoned under the Brisbane City Plan.   Specific requirements for permit holders include:   Nominate a 24-hour contact person responsible for managing and responding to complaints. This contact must respond to Council-received complaints within 60 minutes and report back to Council within 24 hours. Provide guests with house rules. Display the permit number in all advertisements. Hold public liability insurance.   The Council will possess strong enforcement powers. Owners who incur three warnings from Council within a three-year period will have their permit rejected. Furthermore, short-stay accommodation owners who operate without a required permit could face fines exceeding $140,000. Immediate concerns related to noise, anti-social behavior, crime, and safety will continue to be handled by the Queensland Police Service.   The permit system is designed to deliver faster local responses to neighborhood concerns, clearer accountability for property owners and managers, and a better balance between tourism activities and residential amenity.   Industry Reaction and Opposition Critique   Industry stakeholders largely welcomed the structured approach. Samantha Reece, Director of the Australian Apartment Advocacy, commended the Council’s foresight ahead of the 2032 Olympics, noting that the laws reflect comments raised during the 12-month consultation process. She added that these changes provide twofold benefits, offering protection to apartment owners from “negligible short stay hosts” while still providing accommodation choices for families and groups.   Laura Bos, General Manager of the Strata Community Association Queensland, noted that the local law provides bodies corporate with clearer rules and a consistent framework. She emphasized that a registration scheme delivers vital oversight and transparency, and “enforceable penalties and problem-management rules are essential to protect residential amenity”.   However, the Council’s reforms faced sharp criticism from the Opposition. Cr. Jared Cassidy, Leader of the Opposition in Council, challenged the LNP Council’s credibility, arguing they have announced “crackdowns” before only for things to worsen. Cr. Cassidy pointed to a 2023 task force that was supposed to return over 400 dwellings to the rental market, yet Council continued to approve conversions of long-term rentals into short-stay accommodation.   “Council announced this permit system during the 2024-25 budget but failed to act until 18 months later,” Cr. Cassidy stated.   The proposed local law will be released for public consultation from December 12, 2025, to February 16, 2026, before undergoing State Government review and returning to Council for final approval. Hotels, emergency and social housing, serviced apartments with 24/7 onsite management, and home-based bed and breakfast businesses will remain exempt from permit requirements.