Chamber welcomes red tape plan but calls for further detail and environmental reforms

The NT Chamber of Commerce has welcomed a Territory Government plan to cut red tape, while also calling for further detail on the initiative

THE NT Chamber of Commerce has welcomed a Territory government plan to cut red tape by slashing business licensing and approvals to a maximum of 30 days, while also calling for further detail on the initiative.

Chamber chief executive Greg Ireland said it was “encouraging to see some momentum” on the issue.

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“I’d certainly like to understand a little bit more about the practicalities of what they’re talking about but from the chamber’s perspective, we’re very, very receptive to anything that speeds up the approval process,” he said.

“We certainly don’t want any shortcuts taken but anything that reduces the wait times for projects is a positive thing for the economy.”

Chamber of Commerce chief executive Greg Ireland has welcomed the initiative, but says more information is needed.

However, Mr Ireland said there were still further opportunities to reduce roadblocks to investment, including removing layers of green tape surrounding environmental approvals.

“I think there’s an opportunity to look closely at harmonising particularly the environmental legislation around the country. It seems to me that it’s pretty practical that if something’s been approved in one jurisdiction, it’s pretty reasonable that it be an automatic approval in another part of the country,” he said.

“I’m not quite sure what one side of the border to the other physically means from an environmental perspective so I’d like to see those sort of things on the priority list.”

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In announcing the plan yesterday, Chief Minister Michael Gunner said it would make the Territory “the easiest place in the country to do business”.

“During the coronavirus crisis we have acted fast to save lives and save jobs. Now I want us to keep acting fast to grow the economy and create more jobs. Our ‘whatever it takes’ culture is here to stay,” he said.