Release: Lollygagging environmental bureaucrats slow recovery

Release: Lollygagging environmental bureaucrats slow recovery

The Australian Taxpayers’ Alliance, the nation's largest  grassroots advocacy group representing taxpayers, complemented the Australian government for almost doing its job. Scott Morrison announced today that now 87 per cent of environmental approvals are actually getting completed on time, up from 19 per cent.

“When bureaucrats fail to do their work on time, businesses suffer. Scott Morrison is correct when he says 100 per cent of environmental approvals should be completed on time.”

“It is unacceptable,” said ATA Police Director, Emilie Dye, “for a single approval to be delayed by government incompetence. No policy should be instituted unless the government is fully able to uphold its end of the deal.

“If these regulations are too burdensome for the government, they are back-breaking for Australian industry. Every law, however well meaning, comes with a cost. Policy makers have a responsibility to minimize those costs by only passing legislation when absolutely necessary and once passed doing their work in a timely manner. 

“For those wondering why Australia has so few domestic manufacturers, you have to look no further than the 81 per cent of environmental approval applications that were shoved in back filing cabinets and left to fail.

“When looking to stimulate the economy, policy makers must not forget one of the biggest impediments to business: excessive red tape. If Australia is to recover quickly and fully from this crisis, our politicians need to scrutinise all departments, not just the Department of Agriculture, Water, and Environment.

“By working to increase punctual environmental approval, Scott Morrison and the Environmental Minister, Sussan Ley, could save hundreds of businesses from being aborted before they have a chance to sell their first widget.”