A Dangerous Landmine: Why the State Development Bill Must Not Pass

The State Development Bill 2025 was debated intensely in the Legislative Council, stirring strong emotions from all sides. For me, the critical question at this third reading is simple: why should this bill progress to approval? The short answer is, it shouldn’t. This is not just another piece of legislation; it is a beautifully painted landmine placed right in front of us. It looks orderly and promising, but if triggered, it could tear the state apart.

Unmasking the landmine

As a medical doctor turned legislator, I know well the danger of silent threats hidden beneath a calm surface. This bill hands unprecedented power to one individual — the Premier — bypassing decades of safeguards painstakingly built to protect our environment, community, and democracy. It’s not about which government holds the reins now, but who might wield such authority in an unforeseeable future. What safeguards exist to stop a government focused not on public good but on wealth extraction by powerful external players?

During the debates, it became clear that this bill is not about streamlining for the public benefit but about centralising decision-making. The so-called fast-tracking measures were acknowledged even by supporters as unlikely to speed up approvals meaningfully. What will speed up is the removal of community voice, transparency, and robust environmental oversight — at a significant human and ecological cost.

From my years as a GP, I learned something important: when a patient faces unexplained symptoms, the worst mistake is to ignore red flags because the diagnosis is inconvenient. Here, ignoring vocal concerns from the Law Society, environmental groups, and even parliamentary colleagues is that dangerous red flag. This bill bulldozes protections for places like the pristine Kimberley, threatens heritage sites, and undermines environmental laws that exist because our very survival depends on them.

At one point, we heard an admission that key environmental and renewable energy groups were excluded from consultations. Instead, the government engaged first with traditional industries linked to fossil fuels and property, sidelining the voices fighting for decarbonisation and climate action.

If you think this is mere bureaucratic reshuffling, think again. Imagine your family’s backyard turned into a massive mining or fossil fuel project with no meaningful chance for community input or environmental due diligence. This is not abstract politics; this is about the air we breathe, the water our children drink, and the heritage we pass on.

As someone who has spent years healing individuals, I urge my fellow Western Australians and parliamentarians to recognise the human cost being sidelined for expedience and corporate gain.

Breaking away from the alliance of business as usual

While the major parties rushed this bill through, often appearing united in their haste, it was clear from dissenting voices, including Greens and crossbenchers, that this was not acceptable. Unlike those who play political games, we looked to evidence and principle, confronting the bill’s failings head on. The bill strips power from communities and hands it over to the Premier and a selected Coordinator General, with limited scrutiny. It overrides 40 existing acts, risking irreversible damage without accountability.

What worries me further is that the bill’s broad powers open the door for fast-tracking not just one type of project but any development — including nuclear, fracking, or projects with devastating environmental footprints. There was no future-proofing, no carve-outs for critical environmental or cultural considerations. It is a blank cheque for potentially catastrophic decisions.

Being part of the forward-thinkers means holding this government to account and demanding legislation that future-proofs protections, not tears them down for short-term gains. We must resist a reversion to fossil fuel dominance disguised as progress. Our collective future demands better.

If you find this matter as pressing as I do, I invite you to stay informed through ongoing discussions and updates. You can also subscribe to my YouTube channel where I share insights on health, politics, and the wellbeing of Western Australians.

The choice before us

The passing of this bill, I fear, will be a moment future generations will regret. We are undoing decades of legislative work protecting our environment and communities in a rushed process with minimal consultation. It hands vast powers to one minister with little transparency or checks. This is a betrayal of the trust that Parliament should embody.

I view this bill as a risk to our sovereignty and health as a state. It plays into the hands of transnational corporations more interested in exploitation than the wellbeing of our people or land. We will see impacts not just on nature, but on the social fabric of Western Australia.

This is why I and my colleagues cannot in good conscience support this bill passing to the Governor for approval. We owe it to Western Australians to demand a process that is transparent, consultative, and built on sound science, not shortcuts.

If you want to read the full parliamentary debates and follow the detailed discussions that informed this position, you can explore the official record here. For those concerned about our state’s future, I encourage you to join the movement calling to responsibly Legalise Cannabis WA as part of broader efforts to rethink state development.

The choices made now will either safeguard or sacrifice the wellbeing of our communities and environment. It’s a moment to stand firm and demand the best for Western Australia.