The High Court is set to determine whether New Acland Coal’s application for an extension of the New Acland open-cut coal mine (Stage 3 Project) must be determined afresh as a result of bias on the part of the Land Court of Queensland. Read more
The design and construction of buildings in NSW are now subject to a new regulatory framework. This will affect many practitioners in the building industry including builders, building designers, building product manufacturers and suppliers, project managers and certifiers. Read more
In response to industry feedback, the Queensland Government has included temporary amendments to the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (Qld) (EP Act) in their Justice and Other Legislation (COVID-19 Emergency Response) Amendment Bill 2020 (Response Bill), which was introduced on 19 May 2020. Read more
Infrastructure contributions in NSW is set to be overhauled, with a package of proposed reforms on public exhibition and a NSW Productivity Commission review to be completed by the end of the year. Read more
Government’s intent to reform the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (WA) has been formalised with the tabling of the Environmental Protection Amendment Bill 2020 (WA) on 16 April 2020. While framed as a modernisation of the Act, the substantive reform proposed in the Bill is modest in nature and not comparable to the wholesale reform elsewhere in Australia. However, a number of the amendments will see far greater clarity and real procedural efficiencies, particularly in the Part IV and Part V assessment and approval processes. Read more
Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the Victorian Government has announced that the commencement of the State's new environment protection regime will be postponed until 1 July 2021. However, consultation continues on guidance and subordinate legislation to support its implementation.Read more
More complex, taking longer, and less certain. The Productivity Commission confirms that there is scope for improvement for regulatory processes, including reduced duplication of Commonwealth and State assessments and approvals. Read more
