“With two more appeals against the Adani mine just dismissed, it is clear green groups are launching frivolous lawsuits aimed at fulfilling a radical left wing fantasy of shutting down the entire fossil-fuel industry.” said Daniel Wild, Research Fellow with the free-market think tank the Institute of Public Affairs.
“Australia should aspire to become the most attractive destination for international investment. This means cutting company taxes, deregulating energy production and eliminating red tape.”
“There is no need for the federal government to even be involved in approving projects. This should be sole responsibility of state governments. Having both levels of government involved creates duplication and delays with no offsetting benefits – other than to bureaucrats and green groups,”.
The Business Council of Australia report Competitive Project Approvals, released today, argues $375 billion worth of proposed investments are at risk if project approvals processes are not reformed.
“The Business Council report provides further evidence of the need to end green lawfare and cut red tape on project approvals.”
“The Turnbull government should double down on its efforts to repeal Section 487 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, which allows green groups to challenge project approvals even where they have interest in the project,” said Mr Wild.
A recent report by the Institute of Public Affairs found that green lawfare has resulted in projects spending some 7,500 days, or 20 years, in court since the year 2000. This has come at a cost of $1.2 billion.
Download the media release here
A copy of the report: Section 487 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act: How activists use red tape to stop development and jobs, is available here.
The Business Council of Australia report on reforming project approvals is available here.
For media and comment: Daniel Wild, Research Fellow, Institute of Public Affairs, on 0410 374 722, or at [email protected]
For media coordination: Evan Mulholland, Media and Communications Manager, on 0405 140 780, or at [email protected]
(Image: ABC News)
