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Response to the Review of the Office of the Federal Safety Commissioner and the Australian Government Building and Construction Work Health and Safety Accreditation Scheme

Regulation Impact Statement – Department of Employment

On 22 October 2014, the Australian Government announced changes to safety accreditation arrangements for builders working on Commonwealth-funded construction projects. The changes to the Australian Government Building and Construction WHS Accreditation Scheme (Scheme) responded to a review of the Scheme undertaken by the Department of Employment. The review was informed by an expert advisory panel of key stakeholders. Changes to the Scheme included adopting measures as recommended in the review to modernise the Office of the Federal Safety Commissioner and the Scheme, including amending the scope of the Scheme to exclude coverage of single dwelling domestic housing, and increasing the current maximum re-accreditation period from three to up to six years. A Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) was prepared by the Department of Employment and has been assessed as compliant and consistent with best practice by the Office of Best Practice Regulation (OBPR). The RIS estimates the average annual regulatory saving at about $9.7 million per annum. The OBPR has agreed to the regulatory estimate.