The McGowan Government is expanding its red-tape reduction team as part of a record $120 million investment to streamline Western Australia's approvals system and get billions of dollars' worth of capital projects underway.
In the 2021-22 State Budget, to be handed down in September, the McGowan Government has allocated $120 million for more than 150 frontline officers in five agencies to speed up project approvals.
Extra resources have been allocated to the Departments of: Planning, Lands and Heritage; Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS); Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions; Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation; and Water and Environmental Regulation.
The package includes the delivery of the McGowan Government's election commitment to invest $27.4 million in DMIRS to deliver mining approval reform.
It also builds on the McGowan Government's track record for improving the approvals system for the benefit of the community and industry, which to date has included:
- reforms to planning and environment laws;
- the creation of Environment Online and Biodiversity Information Office, two information systems that will simplify and speed up decision making;
- created Streamline WA to work with industry groups to pursue reforms;
- a new round of reforms to liquor licensing; and
- a red-tape reduction program targeting local governments.
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
"Development in the mining, oil and gas, tourism and agricultural industries is vital to sustain economic growth and deliver WA jobs.
"We are in the fortunate position of having the strongest economy in the nation, but we cannot be complacent as there are billions of dollars' worth of capital projects in the approvals pipeline.
"These additional officers will enable key agencies to meet the demand for timely assessments and approvals, while ensuring the protection of our environment, heritage, and of worker and community safety.
"There is plenty of room to improve regulation to make it more transparent, predictable, seamless and efficient, and ensure the community has high confidence in it.
"These extra resources - which include a dedicated red-tape reduction team - represent the single biggest investment in approvals in the State's history."
