Australia’s environment: Breaking the One-stop-shop deadlock

Australia’s environment: Breaking the One-stop-shop deadlock

By Nari Sahukar, Senior Policy and Law Reform Solicitor, EDO NSW

IMPACT! Issue 97, 2016 - Download Issue

Abstract
An exploration of the 'Onestop shop' agenda for environmental approvals, under which the Australian Government devolves to state and territory governments important Commonwealth powers of assessment and approval for projects likely to significantly impact on matters of national environmental significance - such as on World Heritage properties, threatened and migratory species, important wetlands, and iconic places like the Great Barrier Reef. This article critically reviews the Australian Government's attempts to implement the agenda, highlights the problems that this poses, and offers suggestions for a smarter approach.