The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia (CME) has commended the Senate for voting to split the Australian Government’s Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Bill 2023.
CME advocated for this outcome in its submission to the Senate Education and Employment Committee’s Inquiry into the Bill in September, and in its appearance at a public hearing of the Inquiry in early October.
CME Chief Executive Rebecca Tomkinson said passing the important and uncontroversial parts of the Bill was common sense and it now remained for industry and government to consult on the remaining aspects of the Bill.
“CME’s position continues to be that the remaining aspects of the Bill need to be withdrawn and substantially rewritten following genuine consultation,” she said.
“State and federal governments are keen for Australia to seize the opportunity to provide the minerals and energy our country and the world need to decarbonise, and yet some aspects of regulation and policy seem at odds with that objective.
“The current pace and quantity of federal reforms across areas including climate, environment, tax and industrial relations is substantial, and without genuine consultation and careful implementation, risks investment and jobs in Australia.”
Ms Tomkinson said regulatory uncertainty and inefficiency creates investment risk, which could hinder Western Australia and Australia’s ability to take advantage of significant opportunities to continue to deliver the resources required for a green transition.
“Western Australia and our nation more broadly is poised to play a key role in the transition, with significant opportunities across the critical mineral value chain. A stable regulatory environment is critical to making sure we don’t miss out on the next wave of investment,” she said.