The Australian federal government has announced new funding to speed up environmental approvals for major projects, as part of ongoing reforms to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act aimed at cutting duplication between federal and state systems.
The initiative will support the full accreditation of state and territory assessment and approval processes under bilateral agreements, allowing a single approval pathway for projects that currently require parallel reviews at multiple levels of government.
The reform is intended to streamline regulatory requirements while maintaining national environmental protections.
The move comes amid increasing pressure on Australia to remain competitive in attracting global investment in critical minerals and bulk commodities, including coal and iron ore.
These resources are considered essential for energy security, defence capabilities and broader industrial development worldwide.
Industry stakeholders have long argued that prolonged approval timelines risk diverting investment to other regions with more efficient regulatory systems.
At present, mining and resource projects are often required to submit similar environmental data separately to both federal and state or territory authorities.
This dual process can significantly extend project timelines, increase administrative costs and create uncertainty for investors.
Competing jurisdictions such as Canada, the United States, parts of Africa, Latin America and the Middle East have been actively positioning themselves as more streamlined alternatives for resource development.
Recent data underscores the scale of the issue.
The Fraser Institute’s 2024 Annual Survey of Mining Companies identified regulatory duplication as the leading deterrent to investment in Australia’s mining sector.
The finding reflects broader concerns within the industry about the complexity and predictability of the country’s approvals framework.
By advancing bilateral agreements, the federal government aims to eliminate overlapping processes and provide a clearer, faster pathway for project approvals.
Under the proposed model, state and territory systems would be accredited to meet national standards, allowing them to undertake assessments on behalf of the Commonwealth.
However, the effectiveness of this approach will depend heavily on the development and implementation of robust national environmental standards.
These standards are currently being finalised and are expected to serve as the foundation for accrediting state and territory processes.
Stakeholders have emphasised the importance of ensuring that these standards are practical, evidence-based and adaptable across different jurisdictions.
Given the diversity of environmental conditions and regulatory frameworks across Australia, achieving consistency without compromising environmental outcomes will be a key challenge.
There are also calls for deeper collaboration between the federal government, state and territory authorities, and industry participants during the finalisation phase.
Greater engagement is seen as critical to ensuring the standards can be effectively applied in real-world project assessments and do not introduce new layers of complexity.
The funding announcement represents a significant step in the broader effort to modernise Australia’s environmental approvals system.
If successfully implemented, the reforms are expected to reduce delays, improve regulatory certainty and strengthen the country’s position in the global competition for resource investment, while maintaining safeguards for its natural environment.
