The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC) says it supports opposition leader Peter Dutton’s decision to approve Woodside’s (ASX:WDS) 50-year North West Shelf gas expansion.
Dutton’s plan, which involves approving the project within 30 days of winning office, aims to avoid further timely delays, cost blowouts, and weakening investor sentiment.
The Western Australian Government spent six years after it was first announced, reviewing and eventually approving the gas expansion in December 2024. AMEC says this was an “arduous process and clearly not taken lightly by the state government.”
AMEC says Dutton’s decision recognises the need for change to Australia’s approvals process.
CEO Warrean Pearce says the Australian Government should remove any doubt and support the decision to create a bipartisan solution.
“With the Western Australian Government already providing their approval, it makes sense for the Commonwealth to follow suit and not get bogged down in duplication,” Pearce says.
Further, AMEC says it supports Dutton’s plan to legislate changes to environmental laws to limit the ability of unrelated parties to appeal approvals.
The association, alongside other industry stakeholders, have been calling on this for some time.
“The promise of amendments to limit the opportunity for unrelated parties to appeal approvals would be welcome across all industry,” Pearce says.
“The appeals process has been weaponised by small interest groups to hijack the process, this commitment is a step towards closing that door so that the voices on the ground can be heard more clearly.”
AMEC is a national association representing over 500 member companies from all around Australia. The members are explorers, emerging miners, producers, and a wide range of businesses and service providers working in and for the industry.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: AMEC
