The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC) supports the federal and Western Australian governments’ reduction of duplication in environmental assessments.
Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt and Western Australian Premier Roger Cook signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) establishing a new bilateral agreement under national environment law for a more efficient approvals system for projects in the Golden State.
AMEC has consistently advocated for a streamlined, single assessment process that removes unnecessary duplication between state and federal systems, which has long contributed to delays, increased costs, and investment uncertainty.
“This MoU represents a practical and important first step to cut duplication in the assessment process,” AMEC CEO Warren Pearce says.
“The assessment process is where the majority of the time and cost is spent by companies. Getting this bilateral agreement right will provide the necessary streamlining to the process.”
The MoU promotes a single, state-led assessment process, supported by national environmental standards and oversight mechanisms, to reduce duplication and improve timelines while maintaining environmental protections.
Duplication between state and federal environmental approvals has been a barrier to timely project development, particularly for explorers and emerging miners who operate with tighter capital constraints.
“You need a functioning assessment bilateral process, so starting the bilateral here lays the foundation for a future approvals bilateral in a couple of years’ time,” Pearce says.
“The opportunity here is significant, but it must result in real, measurable improvements to timelines and certainty for industry.”
The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies is an industry association representing more than 500 member companies from across Australia.
Write to Richard Szabo at Mining.com.au
Images: Association of Mining and Exploration Companies
