- $36 million to speed up approvals on job-creating projects
for Western Australia
- Additional resourcing to cut green tape and deliver
recommendations from the Vogel-McFerran review
- Part of Cook Labor Government's ambitious reform agenda to
diversify the economy while protecting the environment
The Cook Labor Government will spend $36.4 million to slash green tape and
speed up approvals as part of its ambitious reform agenda for job-creating
projects.
The spending, to be
included in the 2024-25 State Budget, will
boost resourcing of Western Australia's approvals framework to ensure
proponents, stakeholders, and Government agencies receive decisions in a timely
manner.
It follows the Cook Government's commitment in December 2023 to overhaul
WA's environment approvals system, following a review which found approvals
processes had become overly complex and were stifling investment without
delivering environmental benefit.
The new package includes $14.1 million to establish cross-sector triage
teams within regulatory agencies, which will provide immediate review and rapid
upfront assessment of applications received, including for green energy
projects.
Another $9.6 million will
be invested to boost staffing to accelerate approvals reform, while a $2.1
million investment will expand the Small Business Friendly Approvals Program to
focus on reducing the regulatory burden on small businesses.
A further $10.6 million
will be invested in the WA Government's
new Environment Online system, providing a single system for approvals across
Government.
The measures build on a
range of initiatives underway by the Cook Government in response to the
Vogel-McFerran review, which include creation
of the Coordinator General role, exempting regional and local planning schemes
from requiring automatic Environmental Protection Authority referral, and
securing office space for the EPA in Perth's CBD.
Those changes were funded as part of the 2023-24 Mid-Year Review,
bringing the Cook Government's total investment in approvals reform to $44.3
million.
Comments attributed to Premier Roger
Cook:
"I want Western Australia
to be a global clean energy powerhouse, and our approvals reform agenda is
about ensuring we have the systems in place to reach that goal.
"We need an approvals
system that delivers timely decisions and certainty for proponents, while
protecting our unique natural environment.
"This funding will help
to cut through green tape and speed up approvals, unlocking investment in clean
energy jobs and setting up our State for the future."
Comments attributed to Treasurer Rita Saffioti:
"Streamlining
approvals processes is crucial to support ongoing economic growth in WA by
providing greater certainty to businesses and potential investors.
"We're really keen to
reduce delays in getting new projects off the ground, which will help us remain
the engine room of the national economy while also diversifying and setting it
up for the future."
Comments attributed to Environment Minister Reece Whitby:
"Stakeholders,
proponents, and Government agencies deserve an approvals framework that is fit
for purpose.
"That means decisions
that are transparent, good for our State's environment, and made in a timely
manner.
"Our Government has set a
high standard for environmental protection in WA and these reforms will ensure
this remains the case going forward."
