EPBC Act timeline and report provides clarity and certainty

The Commonwealth Government’s timeline and progress report on major reforms to the EPBC Act released today provides stakeholders with clarity and certainty.

Australia’s mining industry supports pragmatic, targeted reforms to create more jobs, more quickly and grow regional communities while preserving our unique and precious environment.

Regulatory reforms which improve business conditions will lock in Australia’s post COVID-19 economic recovery.

The reforms proposed will also implement the National Cabinet decision of single touch approvals while streamlining approval processes and improving environmental assurance and protection.

The recent independent review of the EPBC act found it was outdated and ineffective, with major projects subjected to assessment processes in excess of 1000 days with duplicative process that didn’t deliver better environmental outcomes.

The response today released by the Minister for the Environment, the Hon Sussan Ley MP, maps out a clear and considered process to progress the reforms.

Substantial action on the reforms has already commenced with the introduction of two bills currently before Parliament.

The MCA encourages Parliament to support these bills and lay the foundations for further positive changes.

Business and environmental groups have been consulted during the independent review.

To ensure the momentum for reform continues, the MCA will continue to engage with the government, opposition and crossbench to support these long overdue changes.

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