Releasing its report yesterday, it found the federal government had been lax in its commitments through the Council of Australian Governments to reduce red tape for the resources sector.

In fact, APPEA argued that the federal government increased red and green tape, typified by the recent decision to include a water trigger on coal seam gas projects under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

“The federal government’s recent move to regulate onshore gas exemplifies a duplicative and inefficient management of this critical resource,” APPEA chief executive David Byers said.

“Policies that undermine the development of energy projects and curtail energy production impose real costs on Australia through lost jobs, forgone economic growth and higher energy bills.”

APPEA recommended that the federal government fast-track bilateral arrangements of accreditation by the Commonwealth for state processes and create a “one-stop-shop” for state assessment and decision processes under the EPBC Act.

It recommended also that the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority be given the scope to approve offshore projects under the EPBC Act.

APPEA suggested that the threatened species list under the EPBC Act be reduced as a broader program to reduce triggers under the act.