Recognition and support for complex major projects in Australia

Major Project Status provides recognition and extra support for strategically significant projects in Australia that face complex Australian Government regulatory approval challenges.

Successful projects receive a single entry point for Australian Government approvals, project support and coordination, and help engaging state and territory facilitation agencies to navigate regulatory processes.

Most projects are given Major Project Status for three years to complete approvals.

Your project needs to meet the following criteria.

1. The project is of strategic significance to Australia

The project's estimated investment must be more than $50 million. It must:

contribute to strategic priorities of the Australian Government; and

contribute significantly to economic growth, industry development, innovation exports, and/or employment and upskilling and/or

have an economic benefit to regional Australia, considering a region's investment needs.

Major project developers need to be able to provide details of:

major elements of total capital expenditure

major capital equipment items

cost estimates from feasibility studies

employment numbers for different phases of the project

contribution to the Australian and/or regional economy.

2. The project is facing complex regulatory approvals challenges with Australian Government approvals

The project requires:

assistance navigating complex regulatory approvals challenges under Australian Government legislation.

Australian Government approvals may include:

environment and heritage approvals

customs and biosecurity approvals

approvals under the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 (and related Acts)

approvals under the Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Act 2021

foreign investment approval

import tariff concessions.

Examples of regulatory complexity may include:

projects with an unclear regulatory pathway (for example in new or emerging industries where regulatory frameworks do not yet exist or are in development)

projects that span multiple jurisdictions (state/territory and/or international)

projects with conflicting regulatory approval requirements.

3. The project has sufficient financial resources and is commercially viable

Developers need to show that the project has attracted sufficient funding, at a minimum to complete the approval processes, and that the project can demonstrate reasonable commercial viability.

You’ll need evidence of adequate funding, commercial viability and support such as:

evidence of support from governments and communities

resolutions of support from the board of a parent company

a letter of support from a parent company or investor

letters of intent, heads of agreement or other commercial documents, offtake and supply agreements, audited company accounts

evidence of suitable experience of the project’s management team to deliver your project

feasibility studies, business case or financial viability assessments.