All resource development carries potential harms to human health, which is a human right. Yet, “Improving resource approval efficiency consultation” does not include mention of the word “health”. In this submission, DEA makes number of recommendations to improve all aspects of community health for Queenslanders.
The concerns expressed by DEA in careful analysis of many resource projects are also apparent in submissions by economists and environmental organisations. These detail a failure to use full cost accounting and to recognise environmental degradation and loss of biodiversity and the need for sustainability.
In this submission, DEA recommends that:
- the Queensland government undertake reform of its resource development assessment processes by independent experts in public health, economics, environment and governance systems.
- in the interim, the extensive powers of the Coordinator-General to over-rule Departments and the Land Court be removed and be replaced by a transparent consensus process based on Treasury, Health, Environment and Mining Departments.