Red tape taskforce finds environmental approval times can be slashed in half

In a speech to the Business Council of Australia on Wednesday night, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the deregulation taskforce said environmental approval processes for major projects were "overly complex, duplicative and take too long".

Mr Morrison said the Commonwealth would partner with Western Australia to create an online portal for environmental approvals that would allow proponents to file one application online, access a database of biodiversity studies, and track their progress.

The system would reduce approvals times and be the first step towards a nationally consistent digital environmental assessment and approvals system, Mr Morrison said.

"It takes approximately three-and-a-half years for a complex major project to navigate the State and Commonwealth environmental assessment process," Mr Morrison said.

"It's estimated that this timeframe could be reduced by between six and 18 months through better use of technology.

"As in other areas, digital technology gives us the opportunity to make these processes faster and simpler."

Mr Morrison also praised resources companies for their role in helping with the portal.

"I want to recognise the role companies such as BHP, Rio Tinto and Fortescue have committed to play in the development of the biodiversity database," Mr Morrison said.

Approvals times was one of three areas the deregulation taskforce was tasked with looking at, as part of the Morrison government's "congestion busting agenda".

Environment Minister Sussan Ley has previously said delays in approving major projects cost the economy $300 million a year.

Green tape is also a focus of the once-in-a-decade review of Australia's national environmental and biodiversity laws currently under way.

Mr Morrison also used the speech to announce $3.8 billion of infrastructure spending would be fasttracked, in order to boost the economy.

Projects for the ACT are expected to be announced in coming days.