Stop the State Development Bill

Western Australia deserves a transparent government.
NOT A POWER GRAB DRESSED UP AS "STREAMLINING"

The State Development Bill 2025 proposes major changes to how big projects are approved in WA.

It gives the WA Premier and State Development Minister, Roger Cook, unprecedented powers to override environmental laws, sideline communities and fast-track projects.

This Bill must not be allowed to pass.

 

THE TL;DR

The Bill gives one politician the power to force projects through, including new gas and land-clearing operations.

  • The Bill lets the Premier bypass normal assessment processes for “priority” projects.
  • It allows government interference in environmental assessments.
  • The State Development Bill isn’t restricted to clean-energy and housing projects.
  • It limits public consultation, EPA scrutiny, and public appeal rights.

It’s anti-democratic, weakens independent safeguards, and risks locking WA into the wrong projects for decades.

If that sounds extreme, that’s because it is.

 

THE BILL, EXPLAINED

WHAT IS THE STATE DEVELOPMENT BILL 2025?

The State Development Bill 2025 proposes major changes to how big projects are approved in WA.

The Bill centralises power in the hands of the Premier and State Development Minister, Roger Cook, and would allow the Premier to issue wide-ranging “modification orders” that override existing planning and environment laws. 

Under this Bill, the Premier could bypass existing processes for projects the government labels a “priority.” 

This decision criteria is broad and ultimately comes down to the Premier’s opinion.

THAT MEANS THE PREMIER COULD...

  • Override 40+ existing laws
  • Stop public consultation
  • Impose rushed deadlines on the EPA
  • Block appeals on major projects
  • Short-circuit proper environmental scrutiny
  • Green-light projects that damage nature and water
  • Ignore independent advice

In reality, this Bill would allow the Premier to prioritise economic interests over the public interest in protecting WA’s social, environmental and cultural values.

This Bill is a dangerous overreach that threatens WA’s environment, democracy, and communities – all while claiming to support the clean-energy transition.

Spoiler: it doesn’t.

WHAT'S REALLY AT STAKE?

Supporters claim this Bill is “urgent” for the energy transition.
But there is nothing in the legislation that limits its powers to renewable energy.

Also, importantly, the renewables sector doesn’t want legislation that rides roughshod over environmental protections, it wants investment, targets and strategies. 

Even the Energy and Decarbonisation Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson has acknowledged the scope of the Bill is extremely broad – so broad that future governments would have free rein to prioritise projects that do not contribute to decarbonisation.

FOR EXAMPLE, A FUTURE GOVERNMENT COULD FAST-TRACK...

  • New coal or gas-fired power stations
  • New gas fields
  • Environmentally destructive industrial projects

Under this Bill, projects like Alcoa’s proposed gallium development and clearing of the Northern Jarrah Forests could be waved through without proper assessment.

WHY THIS MATTERS

WA has seen this pattern before.

PREVIOUS WA PREMIER MARK MCGOWAN...

WA PREMIER ROGER COOK...

Now this Bill takes it further – letting politicians interfere directly in environmental approvals.

WHAT WE'RE CALLING FOR

We oppose the State Development Bill 2025.
It is anti-democratic, anti-nature, and unnecessary.

WA doesn’t need to weaken safeguards and scrutiny to get on with the energy transition.

WE NEED:

  • Legislated emissions and renewable energy targets
  • Investment in the clean-energy sector 
  • A credible whole-of-system plan
  • A Climate Bill that gives industry certainty
  • New transmission infrastructure
  • Clear “Go/No-Go” zones for development
  • Genuine community consultation

We also need stronger nature protections, not new laws that make them ever weaker!

WHERE IT'S AT IN PARLIAMENT

The Government wants the Bill passed this year.
But with limited sitting days left and other legislation ahead of it, it is unlikely to receive proper scrutiny in 2025.

OUR IMMEDIATE PRIORITY:

Ensuring the Assisted Reproductive Technology and Surrogacy Bill 2025 passes first – because people’s lives and families come before corporate wish-lists.

 

TAKE ACTION

THIS BILL ASKS US TO TRUST POLITICIANS WITH UNCHECKED POWER.
WE WON'T. AND NEITHER SHOULD WESTERN AUSTRALIANS.

Public pressure is one of the strongest tools we have to stop this Bill from handing sweeping power to a single politician.

Use our guide below to contact Members of the Legislative Council and ask them to oppose the Bill.

DOWNLOAD OUR TAKE ACTION GUIDE