House Environment Committee to examine streamlining environmental regulation

Thursday 27 February 2014

The House of Representatives Environment Committee will conduct an inquiry into streamlining environmental regulation, ‘green tape’, and one stop shops for environmental assessments and approvals.

Committee Chair, Alex Hawke MP, welcomed the referral of this inquiry from the Minister for the Environment, the Hon Greg Hunt MP.

“One of the keys to driving productivity in Australia is removing unnecessary ‘green tape’ for businesses and the community, while still ensuring adequate protection of the environment,” Mr Hawke said.

“The committee looks forward to hearing from a range of organisations and individuals across Australia about how environmental regulations can be streamlined and be made more effective.”

The terms of reference provide for the committee to inquire into and report on the impact of ‘green tape’ and issues relating to environmental regulation and deregulation. The inquiry will have particular regard to:

• jurisdictional arrangements, regulatory requirements and the potential for deregulation;
• the balance between regulatory burdens and environmental benefits;
• areas for improved efficiency and effectiveness of the regulatory framework; and
• legislation governing environmental regulation, and the potential for deregulation.

The committee will accept submissions addressing one or more of the terms of reference until Friday, 11 April 2014. Further details about how to make a submission can be obtained from the committee’s website at: http://www.aph.gov.au/environment.

For media comment: please contact the Committee Chair, Mr Alex Hawke, on (02) 6277 4430 (Parliament House) and (02) 9899 7211 (electorate office)

 For further information: please contact the secretariat on (02) 6277 4580, email [email protected] or visit the committee’s webpage at http://www.aph.gov.au/environment

Issued by: International & Community Relations Office, Parliament of Australia Tel: (02) 6277 2122.