Planning and Environment 'Better Decisions Made Faster' Bill 2025
– Voting Record & Campaign Outcome

Summary of the Upper House vote on the Planning and Environment (Better Decisions Made Faster) Bill 2025, and how cross-bench MPs responded.

The automailer has now been removed. The Planning and Environment (Better Decisions Made Faster) Bill 2025 was passed by the Victorian Legislative Council on 9 December 2025, in what many observers described as part of a broader push to move a large volume of legislation through Parliament with limited debate before the Christmas recess.

David Ettershank of Legalise Cannabis Victoria moved a series of amendments, drawing on his experience and connections as a former councillor, but most were not supported. The Greens, holding crucial balance-of-power numbers in the Upper House, mostly sided with the Government and enabled the Bill’s passage.

Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell of the One Nation party was unable to attend the final sitting, after the State Government unexpectedly extended the sitting days in order to complete this and other legislation before Christmas. She had, however, firmly indicated a wish to see the Bill referred to a Parliamentary Inquiry. For that reason, Planning Democracy records her below as opposed to the Bill, although she was not present for the final vote.

As this campaign focused on mobilising the cross-bench, Planning Democracy reports here which cross-bench and other non-Labor MPs supported the Bill and which opposed it. Opposition Liberal and National Party MPs are included under “Noes” for validation and transparency purposes.

How non-Labor MPs voted

Ayes – voted for the Better Decisions Bill

The following non-Labor MPs supported the passage of the Bill:

  • Katherine Copsey — Greens Cross-bench
  • Sarah Mansfield — Greens Cross-bench
  • Aiv Puglielli — Greens Cross-bench
  • Anasina Gray-Barberio — Greens Cross-bench
  • David Limbrick — Libertarian Party Cross-bench
  • Georgie Purcell — Animal Justice Party Cross-bench

Noes – opposed the Better Decisions Bill

The following non-Labor MPs opposed the Bill (or, in the case of Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell, were not present but had indicated opposition and support for referral to Inquiry):

  • Melina Bath — Nationals Opposition
  • Jeff Bourman — Shooters Fishers & Farmers Cross-bench
  • Gaelle Broad — Nationals Opposition
  • Georgie Crozier — Liberal Party Opposition
  • David Davis — Liberal Party Opposition
  • David Ettershank — Legalise Cannabis Victoria Cross-bench
  • Renee Heath — Liberal Party Opposition
  • Ann-Marie Hermans — Liberal Party Opposition
  • Wendy Lovell — Liberal Party Opposition
  • Trung Luu — Liberal Party Opposition
  • Bev McArthur — Liberal Party Opposition
  • Joe McCracken — Liberal Party Opposition
  • Nick McGowan — Liberal Party Opposition
  • Evan Mulholland — Liberal Party Opposition
  • Rachel Payne — Legalise Cannabis Victoria Cross-bench
  • Richard Welch — Liberal Party Opposition
  • Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell — One Nation Cross-bench Not present for vote

Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell is recorded here as opposing the Bill on the basis of her clearly expressed wish for it to be referred to a Parliamentary Inquiry, despite being absent for the final vote due to the extended sitting.

Planning Democracy provides this summary as a public record of how key cross-bench and opposition MPs responded to the Better Decisions Bill, to inform future community advocacy and electoral accountability.