Value Proposition Statement

The Value Proposition Statement outlines the character and strength of Western Australia’s regulatory framework.

Last updated: 3 June 2021

Strengths of Western Australia's Regulatory Framework

Western Australia is a safe and stable investment destination that observes the rule of law and has strong democratic institutions.
The State has a political culture and community that supports responsible development and recognises the economic importance of the mining, oil and gas industries.
Western Australia has had an independent Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) assessing major projects since 1971. It has bipartisan support.
The Western Australian Planning Commission has state-wide responsibility for urban, rural and regional integrated strategic and statutory land use planning and responds to the strategic direction of the State Government by facilitating a coordinated approach in undertaking and regulating land use development.

All of the EPA's reports on major projects are made public and open for comment before the Minister for Environment makes the final decision.
Western Australia was the first Australian jurisdiction to have a transparent, online register of environmental offsets and a clear offset policy framework.

The Minister for Environment is empowered by laws to make decisions on behalf of the whole Government, taking into account social, economic and environmental considerations.
Since 1 January 2015, the EPA and the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation are empowered to undertake bilateral environmental impact assessments on behalf of the Commonwealth Government to avoid duplication.

In the iron ore rich Pilbara region, the Government has established a transparent Pilbara Environmental Offsets Fund to deliver on ground action at a strategic landscape scale - a more efficient, effective and certain approach for industry.

The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) has a strong multidisciplinary research capacity that integrates science with policy and on-ground management. DBCA's Science program covers the collection, analysis and interpretation of terrestrial, freshwater and marine research and monitoring data, across Western Australia's ecosystem and taxonomic groups.
Through the Geological Survey of Western Australia, the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety publishes a vast amount of pre-competitive geoscience information. This contributes to the exploration and development of the State's valuable resources.

Cutting edge biodiversity and conservation research is undertaken collaboratively by science providers, with the support and engagement of industry, traditional owners and community groups.
Environment Online will transform environmental assessment for Western Australia. This initiative will create a digital platform that will integrate systems and data, using a digital environmental assessment system and the Biodiversity Information Office (BIO), which will capture, curate, and make publicly available biodiversity information.

The EPA is protected by law from being directed by a Minister in the conduct of its environmental impact assessments of significant projects.
Lobbying is transparent, with a whole-of-Government, online lobbyist register in force.
There is a long-standing Corruption and Crime Commission which works to improve the integrity of the Western Australian public sector and helps public sector agencies to minimise and manage serious misconduct.