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

The government absolutely understand that projects need to have prompt consideration. We are absolutely committed to making sure that, whilst all assessment practices are rigorous, we do give prompt consideration to them. And, of course, we are determined to make sure that investors have certainty at the end of that. We want to ensure that when those who are pursuing a project—whether it is a wind farm, whether it is a mining project, whether it is an infrastructure development project—get the approvals, they know that they can invest with confidence and proceed with confidence. So I am pleased that Senator Lazarus, who I note has indicated his opposition to our latest reforms to the EPBC Act, is so concerned about investor confidence. I invite Senator Lazarus to reconsider his position, because in reconsidering his position he could be supporting confidence for the very investors he is talking about; that, whatever the nature of the project, they can then have confidence they will not face litigious practices in future that put those jobs and investment at risk. (Time expired)