Review of major project development assessment in Australia

摘要

Major projects in Australia may have substantial economic and social benefits, as well as wider impacts including damage to the environment. Governments regulate major projects through DAA processes to manage these matters so as to facilitate an appropriate balance between the benefits and other impacts on the community. Inefficient and duplicative legal regimes are considered by some to be imposing an unnecessary burden on major project development within Australia.44 Against this background, the Productivity Commission's review into major project DAA processes is welcome. The Draft Report is a comprehensive piece of work which makes a number of timely and considered draft recommendations designed to reduce unnecessary duplication and boost productivity, while maintaining beneficial environmental outcomes. The Productivity Commission has found that the basis for sound major project DAA processes is already in place in Australia, but there is room for improvement. The Productivity Commission recommends draft reforms to DAA processes, which are intended to ensure that Australia retains the benefit from domestic major projects and continues to entice international investment, while protecting our local environment, heritage and cultural items.