In an unprecedented show of unity, industry, community and environmental leaders are calling on the Australian Government to deliver its long-awaited reforms of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.
A coalition of industry, community and environmental groups say the EPBC Act does not adequately protect nature and is delaying the renewable energy and transmission projects needed to rapidly decarbonise the economy.
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Clean Energy Investor Group CEO Richie Merzian said, “If delivering a clean energy future is a priority for the Albanese Government, then reforming the EPBC Act must be too. It is now the single biggest barrier to timely, environmentally responsible, renewable energy development in Australia.”
CEIG’s recent report, Delivering Major Renewable Energy, identified major bottlenecks in environmental assessments under the EPBC Act, and found many projects now wait over two years for a federal decision.
Australian Conservation Foundation CEO Kelly O’Shanassy said, “The EPBC Act’s uncertain and unpredictable assessment and decision-making processes fail to protect nature or support investment in renewable energy. We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to re-shape the law to tackle Australia’s climate and nature crises.”
The groups are calling for environment laws that enable faster, more efficient and predictable project assessments while improving nature protection, increasing community confidence and empowering indigenous communities to plan an active role in decisions that affect their lands and seas.
Clean Energy Council CEO Kane Thornton said, “Any decision to stall the progress of much-needed Nature Positive reforms to the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act risks missing a crucial opportunity to address one of the most significant challenges facing investment in renewable energy projects across Australia.”
Electrical Trades Union secretary Michael Wright said, “Workforce, training and EPBC assessments are problems that are tangled together. ETU members are ready to build the projects that will power Australia’s clean energy future, but too many projects are currently stuck in the assessment pipeline. Projects with 18-month build times are now spending over two years waiting for EPBC assessments.
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“The uncertainty of the assessment process means there is no reliable pipeline of work for communities, or to train apprentices on anywhere close to the scale we need—an extra 42,500 electricians in the next five years.
“Reforming the EPBC Act must be a key priority of the Albanese Government. That’s how we can escape this situation where everyone knows where the work is, what it is and roughly when it is, but has no idea who will be doing it.”
