Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Education and Training) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Lazarus for his question. As I have told the Senate before, and I think I have told Senator Lazarus before in response to questions, Minister Hunt and the government take our responsibilities for thorough and rigorous assessment of projects under the EPBC Act quite seriously. In relation to the particular project in question, I will take the details on notice because I do not have the exact time line for that project before me. But I will happily get the information for Senator Lazarus as to how the assessment processes around that project are proceeding.

I would note that Senator Lazarus spoke about jobs in Queensland and about EPBC approvals and assessments. This government are absolutely committed to making sure that the EPBC Act operates in the most efficient and effective way possible. That is why Minister Hunt has ensured environmental approvals for more than a $1 trillion worth of economic activity since we took office. It is why we have made sure that projects are rigorously assessed but assessed as expeditiously as possible.

It is why we are pursuing the agenda of having a one-stop shop for environmental approvals, so that we can make sure projects like this are given clear air to be assessed in the quickest possible way simultaneously by both state and federal governments. It is why we are proposing further improvements and enhancements to the EPBC Act to ensure that projects like this, when they do get approval, can actually have the certainty that the approval will stand, that investors can have certainty that they will not be subject to unreasonable litigation, that we will not see instances where tens of thousands of jobs are held up because of technical problems or because of litigious practices. I will certainly give Senator Lazarus the answer to his question. (Time expired)