The council agreed to a move by the leader for the government Leonie Hiscutt to suspend standing orders to allow the third reading of the bill.

Elwick Labor MLC Josh Willie said Labor supported the bill because of the urgent need for more affordable housing across the state.

“This will allow crown land to be rezoned for residential housing,” Mr Willie said.

“An initial audit has shown that there are 239 hectares across the state with a large proportion in the North and North-West.

“We have a critical lack of housing and we would like the government to consider an inclusionary zoning scheme to ensure that affordable homes are located close to services.”

Housing Minister Roger Jaensch said the legislation provided for a more direct and efficient process for rezoning parcels of crown land, making that land available to build more houses, sooner.

The bill establishes a process for rapidly rezoning surplus crown land and land owned by Housing Tasmania and for the transfer of any rezoned crown land to the Director of Housing.

“This bill will reduce the time of that process for identified government-owned land, so we can deliver more affordable homes faster,” Mr Jaensch said.

“It will also put in place appropriate mechanisms for consultation with local councils, adjoining land owners and service providers, so important planning considerations are not compromised.”

Mr Willie said with Tasmania’s population forecast to grow by 8000 by 2020 more housing must be a priority for government.