David Leyonhjelm (NSW, Liberal Democratic Party) Share this | Hansard source

On the question of the method of environmental regulation, witnesses urged Commonwealth, state and territory governments to adopt a risk-based approach. The Minerals Council of Australia, for example, argued that the increasingly risk-averse approach of governments has resulted in unnecessary and lengthy environmental assessments, whose information requirements have no regard to materiality or level of risk. The committee learnt that, in contrast with this norm, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority's Environmental Assessment and Management Risk Management Framework follows a risk-based approach. The committee supports the broader adoption of a risk-based approach as a means of reducing unnecessary, expensive and burdensome red tape.

COAG has previously agreed to explore adopting trusted international standards or risk assessment processes and the committee supports this approach, particularly using a risk-based approach—