MEDIA RELEASE
12 December 2025
Hobart – The Tasmanian Automotive Chamber of Commerce (TACC) has expressed strong opposition to a proposal before Hobart City Council that would ban broad-acre automotive retail in the Hobart CBD, warning the move would inflict serious economic damage on an industry supporting hundreds of jobs in the greater Hobart area.
A motion scheduled for debate at Council’s December meeting seeks to amend the Hobart Interim Planning Scheme to prospectively prohibit automotive retail operations and coordinate their removal from the city centre.
TACC Chief Executive Officer Peter Jones said the proposal represented a fundamental misunderstanding of the automotive industry’s critical role in Tasmania’s economy and demonstrated a troubling disregard for the practical realities of modern vehicle retailing and servicing.
“This proposal would inflict severe and unjustified harm on businesses, consumers and the broader Tasmanian economy,” Mr Jones said.
“We are talking about an industry that supports businesses with hundreds of employees in the Hobart region, delivering high-skilled employment, substantial private investment, and critical training pathways. Council appears ready to disrupt all of this without proper consultation or clear justification.”
Mr Jones said the timing of the proposal was particularly concerning, given the automotive industry’s essential role in facilitating Tasmania’s transition to zero and low-emission vehicles.
“Restricting broad acre automotive retailing would directly undermine the shift to cleaner vehicle technologies by limiting access to suitably sized sites that can accommodate modern workshop facilities, servicing requirements and EV charging infrastructure,” he said.
“At a time when governments are actively encouraging uptake of electric and hybrid vehicles, this proposal would make it harder for Tasmanians to access the very infrastructure and services needed to support that transition.”
TACC warned the restrictions would significantly reduce consumer access to essential automotive services, including repairs, safety inspections and parts supply.
“Hobart residents and visitors rely heavily on the automotive sector for mobility and participation in economic and community life,” Mr Jones said.
“Forcing automotive businesses out of accessible locations would create substantial inconvenience for consumers and impose additional cost burdens on businesses already operating in a challenging economic environment. These are real consequences for real people and businesses.”
The Chamber questioned the strategic rationale behind the proposal, noting it would disrupt established employment precincts and existing investment plans without clear planning justification or industry consultation.
“This risks sending a deeply conflicting message about whether Hobart values and supports an industry that underpins Tasmania’s transport system, workforce mobility and broader economic activity,” Mr Jones said.
“Businesses have made long-term investments based on current planning provisions. A planning control of this nature would create unintended and unjustified economic harm whilst undermining confidence in the integrity of Hobart’s planning system.”
Mr Jones said TACC was disappointed that the automotive industry had not been consulted before the proposal was put forward.
“We should have been part of this conversation from the beginning. Instead, we’re learning about proposals that could fundamentally reshape our industry’s presence in Hobart through a council motion,” he said.
“This is not how good planning policy is developed, and it’s not how you treat an industry that employs hundreds of Tasmanians and provides essential services to every household and business.”
TACC has written to Hobart City Council General Manager Michael Stretton, urging reconsideration of the proposal and requesting an urgent meeting with Council officers and elected members to discuss the implications in detail.
“We expect constructive engagement before any decisions are made that could fundamentally reshape the automotive industry’s presence in Hobart,” Mr Jones said.
“TACC will vigorously oppose any planning changes that inflict unjustified harm on our industry, but we remain willing to work with Council to find solutions that balance the city’s development aspirations with the legitimate needs of businesses that serve every Tasmanian.”
END
Media contact:
Andrew Molloy
Manager Marketing, Media, Communications & Publications
03 9829 1248 | M. 0457 188 375 | E. amolloy@vacc.com.au | W. vacc.com.au
Karla Leach
Executive Manager, Marketing and Communications
03 9829 1247 | M. 0429 334 832 | E. kleach@vacc.com.au | W. vacc.com.au
About TACC
Founded in 1928, The Tasmanian Automotive Chamber of Commerce represents more than 400 automotive businesses and over 7,500 employees across Tasmania, advocating for the automotive industry and supporting members across retail, repair, service and related sectors.
TACC develops the future workforce, employing apprentices and trainees through its group apprenticeship scheme, and maintains memberships with the Motor Trades Association of Australia and Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and contributes to the national policy debate through these leading industry associations.