The Gillard government is open to a significant push from Victoria and business leaders to fast-track politically sensitive environmental approvals before developments.
Before what is likely to be a testy Council of Australian Governments meeting, the Prime Minister today will chair a red-tape forum with high-profile executives, including BHP Billiton chief Marius Kloppers, Rio Tinto managing director David Peever, NAB chief Cameron Clyne and Westpac’s Gail Kelly - and most state premiers.
An agenda seen by The Age says federal Finance Minister Penny Wong will open discussions on competition and regulation reform, allowing the Business Council of Australia to nominate its reform wish list, which includes fast-tracking environmental approvals. South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill will present options on behalf of the states.
It comes as Victoria and NSW prepare to use Friday’s COAG to push Canberra for fresh efforts to cut ”green tape” by streamlining the environmental approval process and cutting regulation. Both states will join forces to demand a single set of principles to ”reduce the costly and unnecessary duplication” of state and federal environmental regulations. The states are particularly concerned about costs and delays incurred when project proposals are forced to adhere to two sets of Commonwealth and state environmental approval processes often asking the same questions at different stages in the assessment and approval process.
Premier Ted Baillieu will argue unnecessary Commonwealth environmental regulations are ”costing jobs, driving up costs and holding back economic growth”, citing one estimate by the Business Council that the Commonwealth’s Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act has so far cost $820 million in costs and delays.
Business leaders also want the Gillard government to use the introduction of the carbon tax to axe the subsidies and separate targets for energy efficiency favoured by the Greens. They also want a new round of national competition reforms, bolstered with productivity payments to the states.
Mr Peever warned last night it was important for the tiers of government to boost economic competitiveness. ”The business community hopes the forum can provide fresh impetus for COAG to establish a proper framework to deliver a more effective process of policy development in Australia,” the Rio boss said.
Government sources signalled yesterday that Canberra was open to overhauling the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.
