The announcement by the State Parliament that it will review the approval processes for mines in Western Australia will lead to a more efficient and streamlined system, according to the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA).
APPEA welcomed the tabling in State Parliament of the ‘Review of Approval Processes in Western Australia’ Industry Working Group report, which was prepared for the Minister for Mines and Petroleum, Norman Moore.
APPEA WA director, Tom Baddeley, said the Minister’s idea is innovative and said the report highlighted the problems associated with the existing approvals system and offers recommendations of changes that could lead to a more streamlined and efficient process that doesn’t compromise environmental, heritage or social standards.
“Industry is seeking efficiency, transparency, certainty of process, the elimination of duplication, clear lines of authority and single points of contact. These recommendations go a long way in achieving those outcomes,” Baddeley said.
Baddeley also said that the report chairman, Peter Jones, had announced that there had been a series of reviews to government on approvals reform over the past decade but key recommendations had not been implemented.
He encouraged the Premier’s Ministerial Taskforce on Approvals to progress the State Government’s promise of a more timely and efficient approvals process and to closely consider the Jones report in meeting that end, in the near term.
“The Jones report is the latest in a long line of reports and surveys that have found our approvals system wanting and now is the time for action,” Baddeley said.