A dangerous and unconstitutional precedent is being set in South Australia, and it must be stopped, according to Family First lead Upper House candidate Deepa Mathew.
The so-called Use of Vacant Land Bill, passed by the upper house of the SA Parliament last week, would give governments the power to seize privately owned land without consent or compensation if bureaucrats decide the land has been “vacant too long” or “underdeveloped.”
“This is communism,” Ms Mathew said.
“Instead of seizing private property, if the government was serious about getting undeveloped land developed it would cut red and green tape and provide incentives.”
Ms Mathew said the fact such a bill passed the Upper House underscored the need to have common sense voices like Family First in the Parliament.
“What was Labor thinking in teaming up with the Greens on this? Is this the Premier’s approach to the business community?
“This is not about helping people. It’s about trashing one of the most fundamental principles of a free and just society: the right to private property.
“Family First opposes this bill in the strongest possible terms. It is not just poor policy – it is an affront to the Constitution, the rule of law, and the moral contract between citizens and government,” Ms Mathew said.
As the Urban Development Institute of Australia’s Liam Golding rightly put it, “The idea that the state can take private property rights without compensation or consent is an affront to everything that we have as our legal system.”
“He’s absolutely right. Property rights are protected under Section 51(xxxi) of the Australian Constitution, which states that private property may only be acquired by the Commonwealth on just terms. This bill proposes something far worse – confiscation without cause, without consent, and without compensation.
“That is not justice. That is tyranny,” Ms Mathew said.
Supporters of the bill, like Greens MLC Robert Simms, argue that developers should be “motivated” to act because we’re in a housing crisis.
“But the solution to a housing shortage is not to strip landowners of their rights – it’s to cut red tape, open up more land for development, release unnecessary planning constraints, and lower the cost of building homes.
“What this bill really does is send a chilling message: you don’t own your land anymore – the government does,” Ms Mathew said.
“There are no clear definitions of what counts as ‘vacant’ or ‘underdeveloped’. There are no timelines. There’s no right of appeal. This bill gives sweeping, subjective powers to councils and public servants – the very definition of overreach.
“Let’s be clear: once the state gives itself the power to take land without just terms, no property is safe. Not the corner block. Not the family farm. Not the small business premises waiting on council approval.
“South Australians should be alarmed – and Australians across the country should be on notice. If this principle takes hold, it will not stop at Adelaide.
“Family First calls on all members of the SA Parliament – especially those in the lower house where the bill now heads – to reject this assault on property rights.
“Because if the government can take your land today, what will it take tomorrow?”
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