- Reforms deliver greater consistency and certainty
- Faster, simpler process will create jobs, spur investment and protect nature
Electrical workers have welcomed the passage of planning and approval reforms that will provide greater certainty and faster decisions for energy projects, including those vital to Australia’s transition and future industries.
The passage of the Environment Protection Reform Bill 2025 through the Senate on Thursday will support the construction of generation assets, transmission infrastructure and new housing.
Prior to the passage of the bill approval times for generation and transmission projects had blown out due to conflicting, overlapping and consecutive processes across different departments and levels of government.
This threatened the continuity of projects required to train and maintain the electrical workforce needed to build new homes, infrastructure, energy systems and industries.
ETU National Secretary Michael Wright said the bill would provide certainty for workers, industry and communities.
“These reforms will support a system that is faster to yes and faster to no on the projects we need to build to tackle the biggest challenges we face,” Mr Wright said.
“Renewable generation to replace legacy assets at the end of their life. Transmission projects that move power from where it’s made to where it’s used. Places for people to live. Data centres to power the new economy.
“Electrical workers want to build these things for the country, but we need to know where and when the work is.
“The uncertainty created by the previous fragmented, confusing and ineffective regime was a handbrake on energy transition, housing builds and infrastructure delivery.
“It was not delivering for communities, it was not protecting nature, it was not creating jobs and it was not fit for purpose.
“Today’s reforms have set us in the right direction on these key questions and electrical workers welcome them. “