PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Australian resources sector has welcomed an announcement by the federal government which will invest A$47-million to slash green tape for industry, protect the environment and improve transparency in project approvals.
Minister for Environment Sussan LeyThe funding would help expand the ground-breaking Digital Environmental Assessment Program, (DEAP), being piloted in Western Australia. It will also reduce duplication and delay.
“This is an investment in the future of environmental law reform, one that will help the economy and the environment,” Ley said.
“A national DEAP will ensure assessments are based on consistent data, that decisions can be made more quickly, with less cost for all concerned. Proponents will submit applications through an integrated ‘portal’ that meets Commonwealth, state and territory requirements, and which is aligned with a national environmental biodiversity database.
“The current system of multiple development applications being made across multiple jurisdictions invites confusion, delay and unnecessary cost.”
Ley said that the government’s A$25-million investment in congestion busting had already seen the number of key decisions made ‘on time’ move from just 19% to 96% since 2019, and the DEAP pilot with Western Australia is showing the additional value of a simplified, single touch process.
Minister Assisting Prime Minister and Cabinet Ben Morton said cutting the unnecessary green tape would be a game changer at a critical time for Australia’s growing economy.
“It will help drive efficiencies and make it easier to do business. The investment, once fully implemented, will result in an annual regulatory savings of up to A$61 million through streamlined digital user experiences that reduce the time and effort required by industry to provide information for environmental assessment.
“We’ve listened to industry, and we’re delivering a better system that will reduce duplication across Commonwealth and state and territory regulatory systems.”
Friday’s statement by the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA), stated that the DEAP was a significant step towards more timely and transparent environmental approvals and assessments.
“The digital data lodgement platform will integrate Commonwealth, state and territory requirements and will help reduce duplication, and unnecessary complexity that delay minerals projects,” said MCA CEO Tania Constable.
“These reforms will support a more efficient assessment process, more consistent decision-making and better environmental outcomes. It will also improve community confidence by increasing transparency regarding project approval processes.
“Practical reforms like DEAP are integral to creating investment certainty, supporting regional jobs, businesses and the communities that benefit from minerals development. The minerals industry has long-advocated for a consistent and coordinated nationally streamlined digital process approach to environmental data, assessment and approval processes,” she added.
The Chamber of Minerals and Energy for Western Australia (CME) has also welcomed this investment, with director of advocacy and policy. Rob CarruthersA single-touch digital approvals process could be a significant improvement in approval processes and reduce regulatory duplication.
“This digital assessment program is being piloted in Western Austraila and the investment to expand it is welcomed by the Western Australian mining and resources sector,” Carruthers said.
“We have long supported a robust regulatory regime for environmental approvals but one that is efficient, transparent and free from duplication. For our industry and many others, removing regulatory duplication, better coordination of assessments, approvals across government agencies, and increasing efficiency in the public sector will be a huge boost to efficiency. It will also give business the confidence to invest heavily in major projects.
“It’s not until a project obtains final regulatory approval that the really material economic and community outcomes begin to flow through. With A$91-billion of planned and prospective projects in the pipeline across the Western Australian resources sector, there is a significant prize to be realised if these investments can be brought forward.”
The investment was supported by the oil and gas industry, with the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association – Appea claiming it would reduce delays and duplicate work across projects involving multiple jurisdictions.
“The oil and gas industry is committed to best environmental practices, supported by our commitment to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions to net zero by 2050,” Appea CEO Andrew McConville Friday’s statement.
“However, our members have consistently said for some time that they consider reducing red and green tape as the critical steps to improving the investment environment, streamlining approval processes and restoring business confidence.
“We talk a lot about the massive economic opportunity available to Australia if the policy settings are made more competitive. This is a positive step.
“This announcement is an example of how the regulatory burden on business can be sensibly reduced while also improving environmental outcomes.”