The top business and resources lobby groups have welcomed Murray Watt’s public announcement this morning of the accelerated timetable for bringing in the new Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation laws.
The Environment Minister has been telling stakeholders for the past fortnight that he now aims to get the legislation before Parliament by the final sitting week of the year in late November, and he confirmed it this morning after the consensus view from last week’s economic roundtable that reform was urgent.
Business Council of Australia boss Bran Black said creating a faster and more efficient EPBC system was critical if the nation was serious about the energy transition, boosting housing supply and unlocking critical minerals.
“Right now, the status quo is working against Australia, deterring investment and making us a less competitive place to do business – accelerating these reforms in the right way will help shift the dial,” he said.
The Minerals Council of Australia backed the key principles by saying, “the MCA will continue to work closely with Minister Murray Watt to ensure these reforms are developed within a reasonable timeframe and deliver practical, workable outcomes,” chief executive Tania Constable said.