Event: BCA Chief Executive Bran Black interview with Sally Sara, ABC RN Breakfast
Speakers: RN Breakfast, Host Sally Sara; Business Council of Australia Chief Executive Bran Black
Date: 30 October 2025
Topics: EPBC reform, state accreditation, net zero by 2050
E&OE
Sally Sara, RN Breakfast Host: Bran Black is the Chief Executive of the Business Council of Australia, and joins me now. Bran, welcome back to Breakfast.
Bran Black, Chief Executive: Thanks so much for having me on the show.
Sally: You’ve seen the details of these changes. What’s your report card?
Bran: Well, I think it’s important to note the fact that, at the end of the day, these reforms, or a version of these reforms, absolutely needs to happen. We need to move forward with these measures to try and address the sluggishness, the cumbersome nature of the existing EPBC system.
The problem right now, as it stands, is that projects just aren’t getting through, and we also see on the environmental side that environmentalists say that reform needs to happen. As we’ve had an opportunity now to review drafts of the legislation, our view is that the potential for change is certainly there, but there are key concerns that business has that needs to be addressed.
Now, on our side of the ledger, that is the business side, we say that in order to get those critical minerals projects, the renewable energy projects and the housing the country needs, we’ve really got to look at measures like the existing definition of unacceptable impacts, the powers of the EPA in terms of issuing approvals, which is a concern for us, but also the broad powers that it has in terms of stop work orders. And then, of course, there is the question of how we actually go about streamlining the approval process to get those benefits that secure projects for the country.
Sally: Well, let’s have a look at some of the individual issues. How supportive is the Business Council of giving the states extended powers to approve fossil fuel developments?
Bran: Well, giving states the power to undertake their own assessments and approvals is absolutely critical from our perspective. One of the key things that we’re finding with the existing system is that it’s just not getting approvals through the process.
Indeed, if you look at renewable energy applications in the years 2023 and 2024, what we’ve seen is that there were 76 projects that were submitted for approval, and not one has actually been approved.
So what we’re saying is that we need to do the kind of thing that Canada’s done, which is say that if an approval has been issued by a province or a state, then that is sufficient for the federal government.
We need to get to that point, and that’s why we say one of the critical things that we need to see as part of these reforms is a commitment that at least one major state will be accredited for assessment and approvals, and that this takes place at the same time that the measures that are intended to protect the environment are switched on.
Sally: You were talking about streamlined approvals a short time ago. What are your thoughts on streamlined approvals, potentially at a granular level, where it’s not a one-size-fits-all, but rather project-based or geographically-based?
Bran: Well, as I say, what I think we need to do is try and reduce the scope of red tape to clog up the system, and necessarily, I think that means making sure that right across the board, states are accredited to administer the federal scheme.
Now that doesn’t mean that there’s a diminution in the standard that applies, it means that states will ultimately have the power and the authorisation to go ahead and undertake the types of important reviews and the assessments, and ultimately the approvals that guarantee that projects can proceed, but also that in so doing, the right type of conditions are imposed to protect the environment along the way.
Sally: The Business Council supports net zero. What’s it been like watching on as the Coalition continues to debate this issue within its ranks?
Bran: Well, look, as you say, we support net zero, achieving that by 2050. From our perspective, the critical thing, though, is to note that we need to do that as a country affordably and reliably.
So our effort and our focus is on working to ensure that the Government’s net zero planning, which is very much underway, and particularly in the context of setting sector-specific plans, is informed with an evidence base that is, what is it that industry needs, what type of policy levers need to be pulled, and how can we do so effectively, so as to ensure, as I say, that affordable and reliable transition to net zero.
Sally: Bran Black, anything missing in the detail? What do you want clarity on?
Bran: Well, the key thing for us in terms of those EPBC reforms, which are so very important, is to make sure that we can achieve the streamlining of approvals. If we can do that, that is our ticket, that is our pathway to unlocking the renewable energy, the housing, the critical minerals and the major infrastructure projects that we know the country needs.
The simple point: Ken Henry indicated that these reforms are one of the critical levers that the Australian Government can pull to drive productivity. We wholeheartedly agree. But as I say, there are key concerns that business has that need to be addressed along the way.
Sally: Bran black, thank you.