Mitchell Hooke, Chief Executive Officer, Minerals Council of Australia says “today’s announcement of a framework for the streamlining of project approvals between the Commonwealth and the states establishes a clear pathway for long overdue reform of Australia’s cumbersome and inefficient green tape burden. This is the commitment to the reform of project approvals – without diminishing environmental protections – the minerals industry has been seeking. After years of talk, the Coalition is getting the job done.“The minerals industry has long advocated the need to streamline federal and state processes such that the Commonwealth sets the standards for environmental responsibilities under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act and devolves assessment and approvals functions to the states – with appropriate audit checks and balances in place.
“Hence, the minerals industry strongly supports the Coalition’s plan to streamline project approvals through a ‘one stop shop’.
“Despite years of commitments from all levels of government to reduce and streamline green tape in Australia, the level of regulatory complexity for development approvals has increased significantly in the past seven years for little demonstrable improvement in environmental outcomes.
“Today’s announcement is another step forward in remedying that problem.
“An audit for the Minerals Council of Australia by environmental and economic consultants URS comparing approvals laws in 2006 and today shows there has been more than 120 changes to state and federal government approvals laws and supporting legislation.
“The audit shows there have been six new pieces of legislation, six replacement Acts and more than 60 sets of amendments to approvals laws; and 50 sets of additions and amendments to subordinate legislation, regulations and codes of practice.
“The minerals industry is committed to working with Government Ministers to progress the one-stop-shop policy consistent with the Government’s and industry’s mutual objectives of reducing unnecessary regulation and costs without compromising high environmental standards.”
