Safeguarding WA’s EPA and Environment

The WA government is intent on overhauling the state's environmental assessment system to make it easier for industry to bypass proper environmental review.

Proposed changes will:

Expedite the environmental assessment process
Curtail the independence of the EPA
Remove public appeal rights

These changes will severely weaken the environmental assessment process and threaten WA's unique environment.

Instead, we must strengthen the EPA and the environmental assessment process by ensuring a rigorous, science-based, independent and consultative approach.

Now is the time to write to the WA Premier and your MPs to voice your concerns about the proposed changes to the ...

The WA government is intent on overhauling the state's environmental assessment system to make it easier for industry to bypass proper environmental review.

Proposed changes will:

Expedite the environmental assessment process
Curtail the independence of the EPA
Remove public appeal rights

These changes will severely weaken the environmental assessment process and threaten WA's unique environment.

Instead, we must strengthen the EPA and the environmental assessment process by ensuring a rigorous, science-based, independent and consultative approach.

Now is the time to write to the WA Premier and your MPs to voice your concerns about the proposed changes to the WA EPA.

Let us know!

Email us at [email protected] if you get a response and we can help you work out the next steps.

Need more information?

You can watch this online briefing on our YouTube channel or get in touch via the email above!

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Email Your MPs and Premier Cook

245 emails sent

Use the email template below to write to Premier Cook and your MPs to advocate for the independence and strengthening of WA’s EPA.

Please note, the most persuasive emails are personalised and make an emotional connection. Include an introductory paragraph that explains who you are, where you live, and why it is so important that the Premier and your MP take action.

The Premier's office will be included in cc when the email is submitted.

Find your local rep

Compose your email

Subject:

I am writing to you about the developments from your government regarding the role and function of WA’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and the environmental assessment process in WA.

I commend the recommendations in the review that call for more staff, training, expertise, data availability and improved coordination within government, where they do not compromise the protection of the environment.

However, some of the recommendations from the recent review of WA’s environmental assessment process threaten to compromise and undermine a robust and independent EPA. During a climate and biodiversity crisis, our EPA needs to be strengthened.

To protect the living systems on which we all depend, we need our environmental assessment process to be rigorous, science-based, independent and consultative. 
 
My concerns with the recent review process and recommendations are as follows:

1. There was no consultation with the public, First Nations communities, technical experts, or environmental organisations.

Consultation was only offered to industry. I urge you to open this process to full public consultation as a democratic necessity. This is a critical issue that affects the lives of all Western Australians. First Nations and expert knowledge, including from environmental organisations, is critical in supporting a robust reform. 
 
2. The ongoing independence of the EPA. 
 
The Environmental Minister being given discretion to designate proposals as carrying ‘state significance’, and to issue a ‘statement of intent’, will severely undermine the independence of the EPA. The EPA’s purpose is already established: it exists to assess environmental risk, which cannot be determined prior to assessment taking place. The Minister providing direction is in direct contradiction to the Environmental Protection Act which states that ‘The Minister shall not direct the Chairman’ (of the EPA).

The priority of the EPA is not to ease the journey for industry, but to ensure that the environment is protected from the activities of industry.

Clarification should also be provided regarding expansion of the EPA board and avoiding conflicts of interest. The content of any Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) should be made public.

3. The prospect of removing public appeal rights in respect to EPA reports.  
 
I do not support the removal of all appeal rights under part IV of the EP Act. The appeal processes should be strengthened and guarantee an independent, structured and transparent process.

Environmental assessments must involve rigorous review, including the option for appeals. The Appeals mechanism provides a critical point at which the public can input on DWER and EPA decisions to identify contentious elements and strengthen the environmental assessment. Removal of the appeals will produce poorer outcomes for the environment, and an erosion of trust in government decision-making. 
  
4. Limiting EPA consideration of greenhouse gas emissions and social surroundings  
 
Recommendation 32 suggests that other agencies should take the lead on assessing greenhouse gas emissions and social surroundings environmental factors instead of the EPA. However, limiting the EPA's role in evaluating and offering recommendations on these crucial environmental factors could hinder the Minister's ability to make informed decisions and enforce proper regulations. With sufficient resources and technical expertise, the EPA should continue to have full responsibility for assessing social surroundings and greenhouse gas emissions. 
 
5. Deferring assessment and regulation to Commonwealth Safeguard Mechanism. 
 
Recommendation 38 states that the EPA should rely on the Commonwealth Safeguard Mechanism instead of conducting its own assessment in line with the objectives set out in the EP Act. This regulatory power should be kept ensuring WA government climate policies are met.   
 
6. Expediting decisions, resulting in a lack of due process.   
  
A main concern is that the overall goal of the review and recommendations is to expedite processes that favour a faster outcome for industry, rather than improving decision-making or protecting the environment for all Western Australians. 
 
Timeframes should not be provided and met at the expense of robust environmental assessments, as proposals must be adequately assessed. 
  
It is not appropriate to support and conduct parallel assessment processes. This is evident in highly complex or large proposals, which rely on assessment outcomes and further expert investigations derived from other elements of the assessment process.

I seek assurances from you that these concerning recommendations will not be implemented, and instead the EPA will be further strengthened, maintain its independence and be allowed to properly fulfil its function of protecting the environment, with public appeal rights guaranteed.

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