Approvals for critical energy, housing and resource projects are set to be expedited after the Federal Government announced new funding to eliminate duplication between the Commonwealth and states when making environmental assessments.

Prime Minster Anthony Albanese has announced that the Commonwealth Government will allocate $45 million over four years in the upcoming federal budget to progress bilateral assessment and approval agreements with states and territories.

Increasingly popular over recent years, bilateral agreements aim to provide a faster and more streamlined approach for the environmental assessment of any projects or developments that require separate approvals at both the state and Commonwealth level.

Under the move, states and territories who sign up to bilateral agreements will be empowered to conduct environmental assessments on behalf of the Commonwealth.

This will avoid duplication by eliminating the requirement for separate assessments at the Commonwealth level.

Specifically, where a bilateral agreement applies to a project or development:

• The relevant state and territory will be empowered to conduct a single process to assess the environmental impacts of a proposed project, development or action.
• Once the assessment is completed, the relevant state or territory will provide the Commonwealth with a report that assesses a project’s likely impacts on protected matters.
• The Commonwealth will use this assessment, rather than conduct its own separate assessment, as a basis on which to give approval or otherwise at the Commonwealth level.

The agreements will be subject to new National Environmental Standards which are currently being developed to provide guidance on how to meet the requirements of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

The new standards are being developed following significant reforms that were passed in November last year.

All bilateral agreements will be subject to assurance by the new National Environmental Protection Agency, which commences on July 1 this year.

Albanese said that the new funding will help to fast track new projects in important areas such as energy, housing and resources.

“The landmark reforms we passed late last year are vital to protect our environment and to boost productivity in our economy.

“We strongly encourage state and territory governments to step up and sign up to a new bilateral agreement, to deliver a system that cuts red tape and duplication, and delivers environmental laws that are clear and consistent.

“This investment will ensure the full benefits of the reforms can be realised as soon as possible.”

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