How Your Southern Metropolitan Upper House MPs Voted on the Better Decisions Bill
Late on Tuesday 9 December 2025, the Victorian Parliament passed the Planning and Environment (Better Decisions Made Faster) Bill. This occurred during extended sitting days, which many observers noted were used to rush multiple bills through before the Christmas recess.
For Hampton and the wider Bayside local area — which sits at the very heart of the State Government’s proposed high-density Activity Centre rezonings — the actions of our Southern Metropolitan Members of the Legislative Council are especially important to understand and remember.
Your Southern Metro representatives and their positions
Supported the Bill
- Katherine Copsey — Greens
Supported the Government in passing the Bill.
Opposed the Bill
- Georgie Crozier — Liberal Party
- David Davis — Liberal Party
- Richard Welch — Liberal Party
These members voted against the Bill and supported stronger Parliamentary scrutiny of the State’s planning reform measures.
Why this matters for Hampton
Hampton’s Activity Centre precinct — including key business, medical and residential areas — is directly affected by the State’s proposed changes. The Better Decisions Bill gives the Planning Minister broad, unilateral powers to:
- reduce or remove community rights to be notified or heard
- override councils on planning rule changes
- fast-track approvals, including for multi-storey development
The potential impacts are local and real: overshadowing, loss of village character, and reduced transparency in planning outcomes.
HNA’s message going forward
Hampton residents have shown they are not “blockers” or “NIMBYs” — they accept that population growth requires new housing. But this must be good growth, properly consultative, and respectful of local communities.
We will continue working constructively with all our representatives — at all levels of Government and regardless of their political affiliations — to ensure:
- proper limits on Ministerial discretion
- community participation is retained, not further reduced
- local planning knowledge is valued as essential input
- Hampton’s village amenity is protected as we deliver housing
We thank every local resident who took action during this campaign — and we will keep you informed about the next steps.