Delayed Adani Approval Highlights Australia’s Red Tape Crisis

“The delays to the Adani coal project caused by red tape, regulation, and government-enabled green activism must never be allowed to happen again to a resources project in Australia,” said Daniel Wild, Director of Research with the free market think tank the Institute of Public Affairs.

Today the Queensland government cleared Adani’s final significant environment requirement via approval of a groundwater plan. The Adani Carmichael coal project, located in the Galilee Basin in Central Queensland, has been held up in the regulatory approvals process for nine years, has faced over 10 legal challenges, and was forced to prepare a 22,000-page environmental impact statement.

“The Morrison government is searching for ideas to boost productivity. Number one on the list should be to cut red tape, reduce delays in environmental approvals, and outlaw green activism.”

“The government must now repeal section 487 of the Commonwealth environmental laws, which allows green groups to launch frivolous and vexatious legal proceedings against job-creating projects in the resources sector.”

“Each year red tape costs the Australian economy $176 billion which makes red tape Australia’s biggest industry.”

“Commonwealth and state governments must cut all taxpayer funding of green activist groups such as the Environmental Defenders Office who aim to disrupt and delay nation-building projects.”

“The 2019 election was a referendum on climate change and it lost. The government must now fast track the approval of all major projects currently held up by red tape in the approvals process,” said Mr Wild.

For media and comment: Evan Mulholland, Director of Communications, on 0405 140 780, or at [email protected]