The federal government has thrown extra funding at plans to speed up project approvals, a week after signing the first memorandum of understanding with Western Australia.
The federal government has thrown extra funding at plans to speed up project approvals, a week after signing the first memorandum of understanding with Western Australia.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, addressing a Chamber of Minerals and Energy event in Perth on Wednesday, committed $45 million to fast-track and “simplify approvals n a single touch process”.
He said states that move forward with MOUs would be empowered to do their own environmental and other assessments “on behalf of the Commonwealth”.
“So, instead of a two stage, two-track process with all of the cost delays and doubling up that occurs, this will be a one step process with one clearer, faster, yes or no,” Mr Albanese said.
“After too many wasted years, this can be a circuit breaker if the states step up and sign up.”
Premier Roger Cook signed an MOU with Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt this month.
The missing piece of the puzzle in the MOU process, under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, is a set of environmental standards still being worked through.
Mr Albanese urged the business community to encourage the federal coalition to engage with the government and support the remainder of the EPBC process.
“We don’t have a majority in the senate, and we need a dance partner,” he said.
“If the coalition say we’re not even going to engage with you then we pursue an agenda to achieve outcomes.
“My government will get things done. We do get things through.
“The $45 million is essentially in recognition to feedback we had from state and federal governments wanting support to get this done.”
The move was welcomed by industry, including the Housing Industry Association.
“This will fast track new energy, housing and resources projects by combining federal and state assessments and approvals, reducing duplication in the assessment and approval process,” said HIA managing director Jocelyn Martin
“HIA recently appeared at the senate inquiry into Environment Protection Reform Bills where we made one key point: the passage of the EPBC laws late last year is only the beginning — not the job done.”
