Environmental Protection (Greentape Reduction) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2012 (Qld) to reform approvals framework

By Sarah Persijn, Partner and Olivia Williamson, Associate

The Queensland Government introduced the Environment Protection (Greentape Reduction) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2012 (Qld) on 29 May 2012.

The Bill largely replicates the former Bligh Government's 2011 Bill of the same name, which was tabled in State Parliament on 26 October 2011. That Bill lapsed when the State election was called.

The 2012 Bill is part of the broader Greentape Reduction Project aimed at reforming the approvals framework under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (Qld).

The Bill seeks to simplify the regulatory framework by integrating the approval process for all environmentally relevant activities (ERAs). It does this by replacing chapters 4, 5, 5A and 6 of the Environmental Protection Act with new chapters 5 and 5A.