“The Business Council of Australia welcomes the Coalition’s policy to establish a single approvals process for environmental assessment and approvals, without compromising the environment,” Business Council of Australia Chief Executive Jennifer Westacott said.

“The double handling and delays that are evident in the current environmental approvals processes costs jobs, while doing nothing to protect the environment.

“Enshrining one decision making authority must be a key feature of the one-stop shop, as it is the only effective way to remove the complexity and delays in the current process.

“In recent times numerous major projects have been cancelled or deferred indefinitely due to Australia’s declining competitiveness. This costs jobs and reduces government revenue.

“Now that the resources boom is transitioning from a construction to an exports phase, we need to make sure new projects can be approved and delivered as efficiently and quickly as possible, and governments at all levels must work towards this goal urgently,” Ms Westacott said.

For further information contact:
Scott Thompson, Director, Media and Public Affairs
Business Council of Australia
Telephone (03) 8664 2664 | Mobile 0403 241 128