Why WA Needs Proper Scrutiny of the State Development Bill

A Risk Too Great to Ignore

There is an urgent need to examine the State Development Bill closely. This is not mere parliamentary formality; it is about our environment, our communities, and how power is wielded in this state. The bill promises to speed up projects, but at what cost? One person—the Premier—would hold unprecedented power to override 40 different laws, possibly allowing developments that threaten endangered species, drinking water, and our climate. This is not hypothetical fear; this is the very real risk to our families and future.

I come from a medical background, so I understand well the importance of careful diagnosis and treatment based on evidence. Similarly, laws must be grounded in thorough, scientific assessments, community engagement and accountability. This bill would undermine those safeguards. For example, it could allow projects like the ongoing and expanding bauxite strip mining in the northern jarrah forest, threatening bioregions that cannot be restored within our lifetimes and putting endangered species like the red-tailed black-cockatoo on a tragic path to extinction.

The Unexpected Answer: A Blanket of Power

The bill's so-called "checks and balances" are alarmingly weak. Decisions could fast-track through rubber stamps rather than robust scientific or community scrutiny. Agencies tasked with protecting water or heritage, such as the Water Corporation or the Department of Planning, could be overridden when their expert advice conflicts with the Premier’s priorities. The bill even grants the power to modify or suspend key environmental legislation through "modification orders" approved by one individual. Imagine permitting a minister to ignore essential environmental assessments or limit public consultation because a project is "strategic or economically significant"—a term so vague it invites misuse.

From my experience as a GP and a parliamentarian, rushing decisions without proper evidence almost always leads to harm. We cannot afford to gamble with WA’s natural heritage or community trust. Yet, this bill is being rushed at a time when public attention is low, giving little space for scrutiny or considered debate.

If you care about democracy, sustainable development, and climate justice, you should be deeply concerned. The claims that this bill is about renewable energy transition are contradicted by the lack of any mention of renewables in its 92 pages. In reality, it opens the door to fossil fuel projects and extensive land clearing. That is a bitter pill to swallow for anyone who values science and the environment.

If you share this concern, I invite you to join me in following these debates closely. You can subscribe to my YouTube channel to stay informed on these crucial issues and their unfolding impact on our state’s health and future: Subscribe to Dr Brian Walker’s Channel.

A Call to Careful Stewardship

The legislation committee is the right place to unpack these concerns. Sending this bill to committee means experts, stakeholders, and community members can provide input, ensuring transparency rather than executive fiat. It is an opportunity to prevent unintended consequences that could imperil our environment and communities for generations.

Those who have examined this bill closely recognise its breadth allows almost any project to be fast-tracked, with scant objective criteria to limit powers. The Law Society of Western Australia, the Centre for Public Integrity, conservation groups like Greenpeace and the Conservation Council, and environmental legal experts all call for a proper review. Ignoring these voices risks locking us into legislation that outlives this government’s term and could be exploited by future administrations, potentially to drive expansion of fossil fuels or mining at the expense of public good and ecological health.

We have an opportunity here to legislate thoughtfully, with science and community at the centre, rather than to accelerate projects recklessly. Good lawmaking requires transparency, accountability, and respect for the independent agencies that provide sound regulatory oversight.

This bill, in its current form, falls short on all counts. There is no room for ambiguities or power grabs when the stakes are so high—our drinking water, heritage, species survival, and climate resilience are all at risk.

To read the full details of these discussions and the concerns raised in the Legislative Council, please visit the official parliamentary record on the State Development Bill. For those who believe in evidence-based policy and sustainable governance, I encourage you to support organisations working for change, starting by joining Legalise Cannabis WA, who champion progressive, transparent law reform here: Join Legalise Cannabis WA.

This is more than politics. It’s about protecting our home. Let’s ensure we legislate with care, not haste.