Recognition and support for complex major projects in Australia
Major Project Status
You can contact the MPFA to discuss applying at any time.
What do you get?
- A single entry point for Australian Government approvals.
- Project support and coordination.
- Help with engaging state and territory facilitation agencies to navigate state and territory regulatory approvals.
Who is this for?
Developers with projects over $50 million, facing complex regulatory approval challenges, and of strategic significance to Australia.
Overview
Major Project Status is the Australian Government’s recognition of the national significance of a project – for economic growth, employment, or for regional Australia, and its need for support to navigate complex regulatory approvals.
If your project gets Major Project Status, you’ll get extra support from the Major Projects Facilitation Agency (MPFA). This includes help with coordination and facilitation of Australian Government approvals. Your project may need a range of approvals such as environmental, biosecurity or foreign investment approvals.
Most projects have Major Project Status for 3 years. We’d normally expect you to complete the approvals process in the 3 years.
What are the eligibility criteria?
For full details of the Major Project Status eligibility criteria, contact the MPFA.
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.
Applying
Contact the MPFA to discuss your project and to find out how to apply.
Apply for Major Project Status
Before you contact the MPFA, check your project:
- is over $50 million
- is challenged by complex Australian Government regulatory approvals
- has sufficient funding and is commercially viable
The MPFA will assess your application against the criteria. They’ll then make a recommendation to the Minister for Industry and Science.
The Minister will write to you and advise whether you’ve been given Major Project Status. The MPFA will then contact you to discuss how it can help with your project development.
The MPFA meets privacy requirements under the:
- Australian Privacy Principles in the Privacy Act 1988
- Department of Industry, Science and Resources Privacy Policy
We’ll treat your information as sensitive and confidential if:
- you identify the information as confidential
- disclosing the information would cause unreasonable harm to you or someone else
- you provide the information with an understanding that it will stay confidential
In limited situations, we may disclose confidential information to Government agencies and others. Contact us to find out more.
Need help?
Contact us for help or to find out more.
- Email:
- Website:
Current Major Projects
Check the list of projects with Major Project Status
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