Over 340 organisations and individuals have signed an open letter calling on the WA Government to limit the unprecedented powers afforded to a single Minister and an unelected Coordinator General under the proposed State Development Bill. These powers come with no clear safeguards, qualifications, or conflict-of-interest rules.
It creates a pathway for so-called “priority projects” to modify 40 existing laws, without defining what counts as a priority, ruling out fossil fuels or uranium, or guaranteeing public consultation.
Despite government claims, there is no evidence that current laws are blocking genuine green projects – instead, this Bill operates like a blank cheque that can be used for almost any project the Minister chooses.
With nature in Western Australia already in crisis and environmental laws underfunded and under-enforced, we need stronger protections and transparent processes, not an industry fast-track that puts our environment and democracy at risk.