October a month of action for highly-anticipated EPBC reform

October a month of action for highly-anticipated EPBC reformEPBC ‘One-Stop-Shop’ reforms have progressed markedly in the month of October, with ‘Bilateral Assessment’ agreements signed in Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia.The next phase of ‘Bilateral Approval’ agreements relies on the support of the Palmer United Party in the Senate to amend the EPBC Act.The Residential Development Council has been highly supportive of the Government throughout the process and has liaised with State Divisions to lodge submissions in each jurisdiction. In our submissions the Property Council has consistently supported:Statutory timeframes for preparing assessment reports and determining approval decisions;Formalising inter-department dialogue, ideally through a senior-officers committee; Accrediting existing State-based offset regimes; andRegular monitoring of progress under bilateral agreements and review of the agreement.Amendments have been made to the draft agreements to reflect the Property Council position. Recently the Property Council expressed concern over the decision made by Palmer United Party Senators to vote against amendments to the EPBC Act to allow for a ‘One Stop Shop’ Environmental assessment and Approvals process.A joint press statement criticising the move by Palmer United with the Minerals Council of Australia, Business Council of Australia, Urban Development Institute, Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association and the Farmers Federation was issued on October 2nd. The RDC is currently in talks with Minister Hunt’s staff and Palmer United Senators to resolve the impasse and a new vote on the amendments is expected before the end of the Parliamentary year.