Streamline WA is a whole-of-government initiative to make it easier to do business in WA by improving regulation and regulatory practice. Launched on 6 December 2018, Streamline WA is a WA Government initiative to deliver better services and outcomes for Western Australians.
More effective regulation
Effective regulation supports innovation, investments and protects our community and environment, but regulation that is ineffective can increase the costs and difficulties of doing business.
We want to improve the way we develop and apply regulation in WA, to ensure that:
- Western Australians are confident that risks are well managed
- regulatory requirements are clear and easy to understand
- our decision-making addresses risks and focuses on outcomes
- our decision-making is timely and transparent
- we apply regulation consistently, and reduce overlap and duplication
- we adopt a customer-focused approach to service delivery
- Government information, applications and processes are available online for maximum efficiency.
By making regulation more effective, Streamline WA will encourage investment, make it easier to do business and create more jobs in Western Australia.
Streamline WA reporting
With clear vision and commitment to the Premier’s Charter, Streamline WA has seen progress under the four approvals reform themes: Resources and workload, Legislation and regulations, Systems and processes, and People and culture.
Streamline WA steering committee
The Streamline WA steering committee. works closely with regulatory and economic development government agencies through the Council of Regulators, to provide a peak collaborative forum for modernising and streamlining regulation, regulatory practices, and timeframes.
Council of Regulators
The Council of Regulators and Charter was established by the Premier on 27 May 2021 to play a stewardship role in regulatory reform for Western Australia. The Council of Regulators work closely with the Streamline WA Steering Committee so that there is a free exchange of ideas about opportunities for improvement.
The members are:
- Michelle Andrews, (Chair), Director General, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation
- Richard Sellers, (Deputy Chair), Director General, Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety
- Rebecca Brown, Director General, Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation
- Mark Webb, Director General, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
- Anthony Kannis, Director General, Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage
- Heather Brayford, Director General, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
- David Eaton, Small Business Commissioner, Small Business Development Corporation
- Lanie Chopping, Director General, Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries
- Dr Andrew Robertson, Chief Health Officer, Department of Health
- Chris Clark, Deputy Director General Infrastructure, Economy and the Environment, Department of Premier and Cabinet (representing the Director General)
- Alistair Jones, Assistant Under Treasurer, Department of Treasury (representing the Under Treasurer)
Approvals reform
On 21 July 2021, Government announced a $120 million investment to streamline Western Australia’s approvals system, allocating additional approvals frontline and reform officers. This package will speed up project approvals and support the delivery of Streamline WA reform initiatives.
Premier’s Charter
The Premier’s Charter, established in May 2021, is based on a series of initiatives announced by Government in July 2020 to accelerate action to streamline approval processes and further regulatory reform to aid economic recovery post COVID-19. The initiatives draw on Streamline WA’s previous work over 2019 and 2020 with industry; as well as approvals-related reform reports and reviews spanning the past 20 years.
Together with general responsibilities, the Charter addresses whole-of-government issues raised by stakeholders and are designed to assist with cultural change, clarify expectations and improve proponent experience. The specific and general responsibilities in the Charter aim to:
- support digital transformation and online service delivery
- ease the administrative load on businesses and Government
- improve and modernise parts of the legal framework
- strengthen cross sector collaboration.
The Charter’s specific responsibilities include the following ongoing initiatives announced by government in July 2020:
- Approvals WA (Online One Stop Shop centralised at wa.gov.au)
- Clear guidance
- Reduced reporting burden
- Build common understanding
- Strengthen case management support
- Statements of Expectation
- Performance measurement
- Introduce legislative amendments to simplify decision-making and improve efficiency across four statutes for mining, tourism and other developments.
In addition, the Government expanded the Small Business Friendly Approvals Project to an additional 20 local governments.
Further information about the Streamline WA reforms, and other government reforms is provided here:
- Government media statements
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Have your say on regulation
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