Federal Labor’s reversal will cost investment and jobs for no benefit
The South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy (SACOME) is disappointed in the Federal Labor party’s position that should Labor win the election, it will not address the duplication of Federal/State environmental approvals processes.
Four years ago, the Labor party correctly argued that removal of unnecessary duplication under the Commonwealth EPBC Act would result in improved environmental management, with a streamlined system necessary to address the inefficiencies of the current system.
In endorsing the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) recent statements, Jason Kuchel, Chief Executive of SACOME said “Government and independent analyses have repeatedly confirmed that duplicative approaches do not improve environmental outcomes, but impose an unnecessary cost burden and severely delay projects at the expense of jobs, investment into Australia, and living standards.”
The announcement by the MCA included a history of the case for reform and details of the reviews of the EPBC Act, together with the bipartisan support in recent years to remove the increasing duplication.
The MCA noted “According to the Department of Environment, duplication costs business $426 million annually. A one-year delay can reduce the net present value of a major mining project by up to 13 per cent and cost up to $1 million every day.”
SACOME supports the views of the previous Labor party that the benefits to Australia of removing this duplication are immense.
Mr Kuchel said “Reducing our duplicative environmental assessment and approvals processes would shorten approvals times, improve Australia’s competitiveness and in turn, attract investment and create an immense number of new jobs, while maintaining this countries excellence in protecting the environment.”
Separate reviews of the EPBC Act by Dr Allan Hawke, the Productivity Commission, and the Council of Australian Governments have concurred that reform of the inefficient duplicative processes would not weaken environmental protection.
The South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy (SACOME) is disappointed in the Federal Labor party’s position that should Labor win the election, it will not address the duplication of Federal/State environmental approvals processes.
Four years ago, the Labor party correctly argued that removal of unnecessary duplication under the Commonwealth EPBC Act would result in improved environmental management, with a streamlined system necessary to address the inefficiencies of the current system.
In endorsing the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) recent statements, Jason Kuchel, Chief Executive of SACOME said “Government and independent analyses have repeatedly confirmed that duplicative approaches do not improve environmental outcomes, but impose an unnecessary cost burden and severely delay projects at the expense of jobs, investment into Australia, and living standards.”
The announcement by the MCA included a history of the case for reform and details of the reviews of the EPBC Act, together with the bipartisan support in recent years to remove the increasing duplication.
The MCA noted “According to the Department of Environment, duplication costs business $426 million annually. A one-year delay can reduce the net present value of a major mining project by up to 13 per cent and cost up to $1 million every day.”
SACOME supports the views of the previous Labor party that the benefits to Australia of removing this duplication are immense.
Mr Kuchel said “Reducing our duplicative environmental assessment and approvals processes would shorten approvals times, improve Australia’s competitiveness and in turn, attract investment and create an immense number of new jobs, while maintaining this countries excellence in protecting the environment.”
Separate reviews of the EPBC Act by Dr Allan Hawke, the Productivity Commission, and the Council of Australian Governments have concurred that reform of the inefficient duplicative processes would not weaken environmental protection.