A pilot project reducing ‘green tape’ for industry involved in environmental issues is to be expanded to protect the environment and improve transparency in the approval of projects.
Announcing the move, Minister for the Environment, Sussan Ley said a ground-breaking Digital Environmental Assessment Program (DEAP), being piloted in Western Australia, had reduced unnecessary duplication and delay and would now be introduced nationally.
“This is an investment in the future of environmental law reform, one that will help the economy and the environment,” Ms 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,” she said.
Ms Ley said proponents would submit applications through an integrated portal that met Commonwealth, State and Territory requirements, and was 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,” she said.
The Minister said the Government had already allocated $25 million to congestion busting that had seen the number of key decisions made ‘on time’ move from just 19 per cent to 96 per cent since 2019.
“Our DEAP pilot in Western Australia is showing the additional value of a simplified, single touch process,” she said.
Minister Assisting the 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,” Mr Morton said. “Once fully implemented, the project will deliver up to $61 million each year in regulatory savings through streamlined digital user experiences and by reducing the time and effort required for industry to provide information for environmental assessments,” he said.
