A Cook Labor Government bill that would unlock sweeping new powers to override WA laws and fast-track projects is the most significant danger to our environment and democracy in decades, the Greens WA say.
The State Development Bill, introduced to the WA Parliament yesterday afternoon by Premier Roger Cook, seeks to grant the minister unprecedented powers to modify existing laws if they stand in the way of projects deemed to be of 'state significance'.
It would also give an unelected officer - the Coordinator General, a role currently filled by career public servant Chris Clark - unprecedented influence over decision-making regarding these projects.
The bill designates 40 different pieces of legislation that would be subject to the new powers, including the Environmental Protection Act 1986, and includes provisions that would allow the Minister to modify Acts if they are seen to prevent 'effective regulation' of a priority project.
The bill also allows for the Coordinator General or Minister to impose binding deadlines on WA's Environmental Protection Authority; to force local governments to make or amend plans consistent with a State Development Area plan; and requires other decision-makers to agree with the Minister or Coordinator General on matters impacting projects of 'state significance.'
As stated by Jess Beckerling MLC, Greens WA spokesperson for Environmental Protection:
"This is an extraordinary move to slash environmental and heritage protections for the sake of industry.
"The EPA is the thin green line tasked with protecting our precious and vulnerable natural environment, but this legislation overrides the Environmental Protection Act and specifically provides for the EPA's Act to be modified to prioritise industry and for the EPA's assessment processes to be rushed to meet deadlines imposed by the Coordinator General or Minister.
"It is clear that the Cook Government is working its way through an industry wishlist to undermine environmental protections in this state, and this is the latest egregious move.
"Last year we had the stacking of the EPA board with industry and new Statements of Intent by which government can direct the EPA - now we have a special Act to prioritise major industrial developments that explicitly overrides and can modify the Environmental Protection Act, and prevents other agencies from making contrary decisions.
"If DWER or DMIRS believes it is necessary to knock back a clearing permit application because of impacts on wildlife, as we saw recently at Cocanarup, it appears that they will no longer be able to do so if the area is covered by a State Development Area and the Minister wants that clearing to go ahead.
"This is outrageous and should not be allowed to proceed."
As stated by Tim Clifford MLC, Greens WA spokesperson for Open and Honest Government (Transparency and Democracy):
"I'm incredibly alarmed by this bill and its implications on our long besieged democracy.
"WA Labor wants to give the Minister unprecedented power over decisions that will determine the future of our state - and give an unelected bureaucrat unprecedented influence over those decisions, too.
"One has to ask: what's the point of carefully constructing legislation to protect our environment and cultural heritage only to ride roughshod over them when it's politically expedient?
"This has the potential for massive abuse of power, and will give industry and wealthy corporations even more influence over our government than they already have.
"To see how this will play out we can simply look to the Northern Territory, where the conservative Country Liberal Party passed similar legislation earlier this year - and immediately appointed a former gas industry executive to the equivalent Coordinator General role.
"This bill is a bald-faced grab for profit and power orchestrated by a government entirely captured by the resources and fossil fuel sectors. It flies in the face of everything Western Australians hold dear, and the Greens WA will do everything possible to strike it down."
