Minister says Labor's appalling complacency led to mining approvals mess

Mines and Petroleum Minister Norman Moore has attacked the previous Labor administration following the release today of Auditor General Colin Murphy's report into Improving Resource Project Approvals.

"This report is a damning indictment of the previous government's failure to provide certainty and consistency in relation to resource projects approvals," Mr Moore said.

"It wasn't enough to squander the benefits of the boom; the previous government also failed to maximise the potential of existing activity through its appalling complacency.

"Despite the Labor Government's allocation of almost $40million to address this important area, Auditor General Colin Murphy has found a systemic failure to achieve improvements in the approvals process.

"This, at a time of unprecedented activity when responsible and accountable leadership could have reaped great benefits for our State.

"Mr Murphy found there was a failure to keep proper track of projects on their overall progression through the approvals system and a lack of improvement in reporting on overall timelines for projects.

"He found the existing model relied on resource projects proponents improving the standard of their proposals, rather than Government agencies improving the standard of their approvals processes.

"He also found a lack of agency compliance with timelines and, ultimately, a failure to streamline the approvals process and achieve certainty. The blame for this can be squarely laid at the door of the former Labor Ministers.

"Basically, the previous government was asleep at the wheel."

Mr Moore said the Government intended to review the current system thoroughly and would use the Auditor General's findings as part of the process.

The Minister said altering the way various agencies approached the approvals process to meet changing demands, improving forward planning and ensuring there were clear criteria for addressing social and environmental impacts were issues of particular importance.

"I want to ensure that there is a consistent, co-ordinated and responsible approach that will allow developers to get on with contributing to the economy as quickly and as positively as they can," he said.