Media reports say a major reform by the conservative Liberal-National government of Australia’s environmental approval process has begun in secret.
Reports carried by Fairfax Media newspapers indicate the coalition government is refusing to release a draft agreement of how regulatory power will be devolved to the states and territories.
The Fairfax Media reports say the Environment Minister Greg Hunt is refusing to release a draft memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed with Queensland last week to streamline so-called ”green tape”.
The Age newspaper reports Mr Hunt’s spokesperson said this was the first step in the government’s development of its ”one-stop shop” for environmental approvals and the government says the document is likely to become a template for other states.
The reform raises the prospect of the states approving their own applications under federal environment law.
The states of Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, which all have Liberal-National governments, have proposed grazing, shooting, tourism development and even logging in national parks in recent months.
Despite the name, national parks are largely established and managed by state governments.
The Age reports in Victoria, the only reason the Liberal-National government couldn’t fulfill its election promise of returning cattle grazing to the Alpine National Park was because former federal Labor environment minister Tony Burke blocked it.
Mr Burke used national environment laws, deeming it ”clearly unacceptable” because of its impacts on the alpine region’s national heritage values.
After the rejection, Victoira’s environment minister Ryan Smith said he would continue to advocate for alpine grazing, but the state government last week would not be drawn on its next move, given the likely power shift of environmental approvals to the states.
The Fairfax Media reports say the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies welcomed the draft MOU for Queensland, saying it was ”a great step forward for the mining and mineral exploration industry in Queensland”.
It added the move would remove duplications under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, the federal environment law.
The federal government says the draft document will go to Prime Minister Tony Abbott for approval.
Mr Hunt’s office would not release the draft MOU, saying only it addressed ”the key principles of maintaining environmental standards, streamlining processes, the removal of duplication and the offer of federal staff to be embedded with the state if required”.
Under the new scheme, states and territories will have the power to make environmental approvals as long as they adhere to federal EPBC laws.
The government stresses it will not change existing environmental standards required for project approval.
Mr Hunt’s spokesperson said it would simply remove duplication between the states and federal government.
”Significant work has already been undertaken with the states, including with NSW, which had made progress with the Labor government until Prime Minister Gillard scrapped the process,” she said.
”The minister is keen to work with all states in upholding environmental standards, while reducing delays and duplication for project assessments and approvals.”
