CCIWA has acknowledged the Prime Minister’s commitment to further consult industry on the ‘Nature Positive’ reforms and “stands ready to work constructively to reach a commonsense outcome”, says CCIWA CEO Peter Cock.
Speaking from the campaign trail today, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that Labor intended to revamp its Nature Positive plans, which included an independent environmental watchdog and major overhaul to approvals processes, if it won the election.
However, in a marked shift he pledged to sit down with both industry and environmental groups and work through the recommendations from the Graeme Samuel review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
“What we’ll do is work it through, we’ll consult widely, make sure that we get it right and that is what we will legislate: something that provides certainty for industry in the way that process occurs, but also provides for sustainability,” he was quoted as saying.
CCIWA’s Dr Cock said the commitment from the Government to restart its consultation over the Samuel review recommendations was particularly important.
“Notably, the Samuel review did not recommend an independent national Environmental Protection Authority that makes decisions on projects,” he said.
“The proposal the Government put forward in this term of Parliament went beyond the Samuel recommendation, and was highly concerning. It would have duplicated approvals that are already happening at a state level, which will blow out the timeframes and costs for major projects approvals.”
How Nature Positive has played out
After two years of calling for a common-sense approach to Federal environmental reforms, the Government in February abandoned its ‘Nature Positive’ Bills in their current form.
The ‘Nature Positive’ Bills were listed for debate in the Senate but later removed from the schedule. This followed intervention from WA Premier Roger Cook urging the Prime Minister to scuttle the Bills.
Dr Cock said there were also significant concerns about the governance of the proposed national body, and whether it will adequately balance the social and economic benefits of projects.
“It’s already taking far too long for approvals to progress, with new projects taking years to clear regulatory hurdles,” he said.
“In WA, additional delays from a Canberra-based bureaucracy could undermine investment in our mining and minerals sector, as well as slowing projects in housing, defence, clean energy, agriculture and other critical areas.
“The Government must now ensure it introduces reforms following deep consultation with all stakeholders, to ensure it achieves outcomes that are better for the environment and better for business.”
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