 Under Peter Debnam and Barry O'Farrell he was Shadow Minister for Education (2005–07) and was made Shadow Minister for Redfern Waterloo (2007–08).He was also appointed Shadow Minister for Planning (2008–11) and Shadow Minister for Infrastructure (2008–11).Between 2007 and 2011 Hazzard criticised the State Labor Government's move to take planning powers away from Local government and handing them to government-appointed planning panels and their attitudes towards development of heritage areas.