CCIWA has again called on the Federal Government to abandon legislation currently before Parliament to establish a new national bureaucracy to oversee environmental approvals.
It comes after a survey commissioned by ACT Senator David Pocock reportedly shows voters “want to see a national environmental regulator that is independent of government”.
The Government’s “Nature Positive” reforms, currently before Parliament, will set up a Canberra-based bureaucracy that will have the power to stop major projects without considering the social or economic benefits.
These would include crucial projects in mining, housing, energy infrastructure, renewable energy projects and public infrastructure like roads and railways.
If these projects don’t go ahead, it will mean less revenue for the Federal Government, less jobs for hardworking Western Australians, and lead to higher taxes on everyday goods – during a cost-of-living crisis. There’s also every chance our efforts to decarbonise will be slowed, as major energy transition projects become mired in green tape.
CCIWA Chief Economist Aaron Morey said the reforms sound positive in theory, but the devil is in the detail.
“What this survey fails to tell its respondents is that an environmental regulator already exists in WA, and it’s viewed as among the best in the world,” he said.
“Rarely has there been a better example of a solution in search of a problem. We are in lock step with the WA Premier on this.”
“The continued efforts in Canberra to tell WA how to manage its environment and its economy have to stop. They are so out of touch with the reality on the ground, and seemingly oblivious to the vast contribution we make to the nation’s wealth.
“Nobody disagrees that we need to better protect the environment, but the system needs to get the balance right. Nature Positive is a recipe for more green tape, fewer jobs and higher costs to build the infrastructure we need.”
A CCIWA survey of voters in June found 60% of respondents answered, ‘yes’ to the question: “Do you think the Federal Minister for Environment should be accountable for making decisions on whether major projects should proceed?”
This survey question formed part of CCIWA’s submission to the Government’s review into the Nature Positive Bill.
“The great myth around these reforms is that somehow adding an extra layer of green tape and paperwork is going to lead to better environmental outcomes,” Mr Morey said.
“WA in particular has a rigorous, world-leading approvals system that adequately balances environmental outcomes with infrastructure, jobs and the economy.
“Creating a duplicate agency in Canberra, which is less accountable and has a more limited scope, won’t automatically be “nature positive” – but it will be jobs negative.”
