Greentape Reduction Bill: will it strip local governments' power to regulate environmental impacts?

Queensland's Environmental Protection (Greentape Reduction) and Other Legislation Bill 2012 may make it more difficult for local governments to regulate environmental impacts.

The Greentape Reduction Bill was re-introduced into Parliament on 29 May 2012, after it lapsed prior to the recent State election.

The Bill has received plenty of support from industry groups and regulators alike. Its proponents claim that administrative paperwork associated with obtaining approvals will be slashed by as much as 20% if the Bill is passed.

However, we predict the interplay between the state's Sustainable Planning Act 2009 (SPA) concurrence conditions and conditions attached to environmental authorities under the proposed regime may make it more difficult for local governments to regulate environmental impacts arising from land uses they approve.