Israeli settlers force Palestinian family to exhume and rebury their father
Israeli settlers dig up grave of Palestinian man, forcing family to relocate body
NPR Topics: News1 min read
Australia politics live: budget funds to speed up environmental approvals; Coalition deals with Farrer loss
TL;DR
Australia's government plans to allocate $500 million in the upcoming budget to expedite environmental approvals for housing, energy, and critical minerals projects. This initiative aims to enhance productivity and reduce compliance costs.
Key points
- Australia's budget includes $500 million for faster environmental approvals
- Funding targets housing, energy, and critical minerals projects
- Government aims to reduce compliance costs and cut red tape
Mentioned in this story
Jim Chalmers
Chalmers talks up faster approvals processes as productivity boost
Ahead of delivering his fifth budget tomorrow night, Jim Chalmers says the government’s moves to fast track approvals for priority projects is a key productivity measure for the country.
double quotation markOur big productivity push is all about getting compliance costs down and cutting red tape, making it easier and faster to build, and making Australia a more attractive place to invest and that’s what we’re doing through the EPBC.
We’re fast-tracking approvals to build more homes for Australians.
More efficient approvals mean projects get off the ground quicker and Australians get into homes sooner.
Tomorrow night’s federal budget will include $500m in new funding for faster approvals for housing, energy and critical minerals projects, part of changes to national environment laws.
The government will also provide funding to states and territories to speed up environmental assessments around the country.
As part of the plans, $105.9m will be spent over four years to provide better access to information needed for approvals, including using AI to better access environmental data.
Labor passed major changes to Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act last year, and sluggish approval times have been identified as a key area of delays across the economy. The environment minister, Murray Watt, says:
double quotation markNow, this new funding will put those laws to work, unlocking major projects and helping proponents get a faster yes or a faster no.
That’s a win-win for our economy and our precious natural environment.
Good morning, Krishani Dhanji here with you. Friends, it’s budget week, and it has come very quickly if you ask me!
We’re getting a few final announcements from the government before Jim Chalmers hands down his budget tomorrow. That includes some money to speed up environmental approvals to boost productivity (more on that in a moment). Of course, all the big-ticket items – including reforms to capital gains tax, negative gearing and trusts, have already been out for weeks.
Saturday’s byelection has (as many have commented) created huge waves across Canberra, and there will be plenty of reaction to it – and its impacts – today.
Stick with us, it’s going to be a huge day.
Explore more on these topics
Q&A
What is the purpose of the $500 million funding in Australia's budget?
The $500 million funding aims to speed up environmental approvals for housing, energy, and critical minerals projects to boost productivity.
How will faster environmental approvals impact housing in Australia?
Faster environmental approvals are expected to facilitate quicker project initiation, allowing Australians to move into homes sooner.
What changes are being made to national environment laws in Australia?
The changes to national environment laws include measures to fast-track approvals and reduce compliance costs for priority projects.
