Abstract
The Coalition Government has introduced the Fast-Track Approvals Bill to Parliament. The Bill would allow a small number of Ministers to approve infrastructure and development
projects directly, circumventing public consultation processes and environmental protections currently in place. Projects that will be prioritised for fast-tracking, including mining and major roading projects, are highly likely to increase the country’s greenhouse gas emissions and undermine progress on environmental protection and restoration.
Because of this, they pose potentially serious and intergenerational threats to public health.
Here we focus on the implications of the Bill for our environment and the consequences this has for our health and wellbeing. The Fast-track Approvals Bill has been sent to Select
Committee and submissions are open through Parliament’s website until 19 April 2024.