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Coalition to hand mines and ports approval powers back to the states Coalition to hand mines and ports approval powers back to the states
(3 months later)
The Coalition has outlined its plans for a "one-stop-shop" for environmental approvals that would see the states make decisions on major projects such as mines and ports.The Coalition has outlined its plans for a "one-stop-shop" for environmental approvals that would see the states make decisions on major projects such as mines and ports.
In the most detailed explanation to date of its long-standing aim to devolve environmental powers to the states, the Coalition said that economically important development has been delayed or deferred by "multiple layers of bureaucracy".In the most detailed explanation to date of its long-standing aim to devolve environmental powers to the states, the Coalition said that economically important development has been delayed or deferred by "multiple layers of bureaucracy".
It points to a Business Council submission to COAG which claimed that approvals for a single major project had cost $25m and involved 4,000 meetings.It points to a Business Council submission to COAG which claimed that approvals for a single major project had cost $25m and involved 4,000 meetings.
Shadow environment minister Greg Hunt told Guardian Australia he has confidence in the states and that the environment wouldn't suffer under the Coalition's plan.Shadow environment minister Greg Hunt told Guardian Australia he has confidence in the states and that the environment wouldn't suffer under the Coalition's plan.
"Businesses are looking for decisions, they don't mind if it's a red light or a green light but they want certainty," he said. "This [plan] will be subject to particular agreements with the states and I won't pre-empt that. But the goal is to have agreements around documents and assessments."Businesses are looking for decisions, they don't mind if it's a red light or a green light but they want certainty," he said. "This [plan] will be subject to particular agreements with the states and I won't pre-empt that. But the goal is to have agreements around documents and assessments.
"Good environmental outcomes come from good standards. We will maintain environmental standards. We want good threatened-species standards. The plan is to have really strong threatened-species plans that don't sit on the shelf. I'm not afraid of giving a red light to a green light, I want to make decisions and not hide behind bureaucracy.""Good environmental outcomes come from good standards. We will maintain environmental standards. We want good threatened-species standards. The plan is to have really strong threatened-species plans that don't sit on the shelf. I'm not afraid of giving a red light to a green light, I want to make decisions and not hide behind bureaucracy."
However, the Coalition's stance is bitterly opposed by conservation groups, who claim that the states cannot be trusted to safeguard the environment. Labor is also against the proposal.However, the Coalition's stance is bitterly opposed by conservation groups, who claim that the states cannot be trusted to safeguard the environment. Labor is also against the proposal.
Federal environment minister Tony Burke told Guardian Australia that the Coalition's plans would result in dire outcomes for Australia's animals and ecosystems.Federal environment minister Tony Burke told Guardian Australia that the Coalition's plans would result in dire outcomes for Australia's animals and ecosystems.
"Let's face it, the Coalition's view has nothing to do with streamlining processes," he said."Let's face it, the Coalition's view has nothing to do with streamlining processes," he said.
"It is about giving an automatic green light to environmental damage. Time and again state governments have urged us to conduct fewer checks and put in place lower environmental standards in the name of streamlining."It is about giving an automatic green light to environmental damage. Time and again state governments have urged us to conduct fewer checks and put in place lower environmental standards in the name of streamlining.
"We've made significant improvements in processing times without reducing environmental standards by a millimetre.""We've made significant improvements in processing times without reducing environmental standards by a millimetre."
The Coalition plan, jointly presented by opposition leader Tony Abbott and Hunt, contains three key measures to pare back the approvals regime.The Coalition plan, jointly presented by opposition leader Tony Abbott and Hunt, contains three key measures to pare back the approvals regime.
A single process under the federal Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act will run via the state system. This will be supplemented by a single document lodgement procedure and the inclusion of local government bodies into the process.A single process under the federal Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act will run via the state system. This will be supplemented by a single document lodgement procedure and the inclusion of local government bodies into the process.
In a statement, Abbott said that the "duplication of federal, state and local environmental approvals has added enormous complexity, cost and uncertainty" to development projects.In a statement, Abbott said that the "duplication of federal, state and local environmental approvals has added enormous complexity, cost and uncertainty" to development projects.
"The Coalition has already held discussions with state and territory governments," he said."The Coalition has already held discussions with state and territory governments," he said.
"The states are receptive because they also are frustrated by the delays in decision making and the lack of clarity over process."The states are receptive because they also are frustrated by the delays in decision making and the lack of clarity over process.
"Establishing a one-stop-shop for environmental approvals is part of the Coalition's plan to deliver more efficient government and more productive businesses through cutting $1 billion in red and green tape costs each year.""Establishing a one-stop-shop for environmental approvals is part of the Coalition's plan to deliver more efficient government and more productive businesses through cutting $1 billion in red and green tape costs each year."
State governments have recently made a number of contentious environmental decisions that critics claim prove they need federal oversight under the EPBC act.State governments have recently made a number of contentious environmental decisions that critics claim prove they need federal oversight under the EPBC act.
NSW plans to open up 77 of its national parks to amateur hunters, Queensland is exploring the possibility of logging in its protected forests and Victoria aims to greatly boost the amount of tourism infrastructure within its national parks. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/18/green-groups-national-parks-huntingNSW plans to open up 77 of its national parks to amateur hunters, Queensland is exploring the possibility of logging in its protected forests and Victoria aims to greatly boost the amount of tourism infrastructure within its national parks. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/18/green-groups-national-parks-hunting
The federal government has generally been reluctant to completely block new development under its EPBC powers, which allow it to veto activity that threatens endangered species or areas of heritage and "national importance".The federal government has generally been reluctant to completely block new development under its EPBC powers, which allow it to veto activity that threatens endangered species or areas of heritage and "national importance".
Statistics from the Department of the Environment show that since the EPBC act's introduction in 2000, 3,744 projects have been assessed. Of those, just 17 were deemed by the federal government to be not acceptable.Statistics from the Department of the Environment show that since the EPBC act's introduction in 2000, 3,744 projects have been assessed. Of those, just 17 were deemed by the federal government to be not acceptable.
However, environmentalists point out that the highly controversial Franklin Dam in Tasmania would've gone ahead without federal government intervention, as would sand mining on Fraser Island and oil extraction that would endanger the Great Barrier Reef.However, environmentalists point out that the highly controversial Franklin Dam in Tasmania would've gone ahead without federal government intervention, as would sand mining on Fraser Island and oil extraction that would endanger the Great Barrier Reef.
The Greens are highly critical of the attempt to shift approval power to the states.The Greens are highly critical of the attempt to shift approval power to the states.
"We just need to look at the way state premiers are currently treating our national parks, with threats of logging, shooting and grazing, to see that they can't be trusted with treasures like the Great Barrier Reef or the Kimberley and our endangered species," said senator Larissa Waters, the Greens environment spokesperson."We just need to look at the way state premiers are currently treating our national parks, with threats of logging, shooting and grazing, to see that they can't be trusted with treasures like the Great Barrier Reef or the Kimberley and our endangered species," said senator Larissa Waters, the Greens environment spokesperson.
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