Published Impact Analyses

On 11 September 2012, the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities announced plans to extend legislative powers available under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 that would enable the Minister to prohibit some new fishing activities from occurring in Commonwealth fisheries while a further assessment of all potential impacts is undertaken by an expert panel. A Regulation Impact Statement was required for this proposal but the Acting Prime Minister granted an exemption on the basis of exceptional circumstances. A post-implementation review will be required within 1 to 2 years of its implementation.

On 4 September 2012, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) announced amendments to the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 to introduce safety improvements in avionics equipment termed Airborne Collision Avoidance Systems which are carried on turbine powered commercial transport aircraft to detect and resolve potential conflict situations between two equipped aircraft.  CASA consider that the current technology of the air traffic management system used for navigation and surveillance is based on outdated radar and ground-based navigation aids. The proposed mandatory systems require all the affected aircraft to have the necessary equipment installed to provide for inter-operation with the air traffic management system. A Regulation Impact Statement was prepared by CASA and has been assessed as adequate by the Office of Best Practice Regulation.

On 16 August 2012, the Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and Urban Water made a fuel standard and a fuel quality information (labelling) standard for Ethanol (E85) Automotive Fuel under the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000. The standards will come into force on 1 November 2012. E85 is a fuel blend of between 70 and 85 per cent ethanol, with the remainder petrol. It is suitable for use in vehicles that are specifically built or modified to use it. The E85 fuel standard specifies the physical and chemical parameters for E85, as well as methods to test whether the fuel meets these parameters. The fuel standards are intended to reduce pollution that may cause environmental and health problems and allow engines to operate more effectively.

On 28 August, the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency and the European Commissioner for Climate Change jointly announced that Australia and Europe will be linking their emissions trading systems. The Australian Government has agreed to enter into negotiations on a full-linking agreement that would allow businesses to use carbon units from the Australian Carbon Pricing Mechanism (CPM) or the European Union Emissions Trading System for compliance under either system, and the European Commission will seek a mandate to do so in coming months. As an interim arrangement and to simplify the pathway to full linking, the Australian Government will make two changes to the design of its CPM: the price floor will not be implemented; and an additional quantitative restriction will apply to the use of eligible Kyoto units.

On 17 August 2012, a COAG Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) on strategies to implement a national approach to poisonous chemical controls was released by the Standing Council on Health (SCoH).  The Consultation RIS examines options to improve national consistency of poisonous chemical regulation, as set out in the Standard for Uniform Scheduling of Medicines and Poisons (SUSMP).  The Consultation RIS identifies the problems associated with inconsistency of chemical and poisons regulation across States and Territories. It is argued that inconsistency creates an increase in compliance costs for business, and indirectly for consumers, without improving regulatory outcomes.

On 27 April 2012, the Standing Council on Health meeting as the Australian Health Workforce Ministerial Council approved new general registration standards for optometrists. Currently, optometrists are not required to hold qualifications in ocular therapeutics to be registered. However, this will become mandatory from 1 December 2014, with grandfathering provisions for existing optometrists. The Council of Australian Governments’ (COAG) best practice regulation requirements apply to decisions by COAG, ministerial councils or other bodies where there is a reasonable expectation of widespread compliance.

On 13 August 2012, the COAG National Licensing Taskforce released a COAG Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (RIS). The Consultation RIS examines the impact of replacing the current diverse state and territory licensing of the property occupational area with a proposed national licensing approach. It also examines an automatic mutual recognition option. The Consultation RIS seeks feedback on the scope and scale of the proposed changes, examples of the impact on licensees and businesses, on the durability of reform, and on the merits of reform under the different options for promoting a seamless national approach to licensing of property occupations. The COAG RIS for consultation was assessed as adequate by the Office of Best Practice Regulation.

On 13 August 2012, the COAG National Licensing Taskforce released a COAG Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (RIS). The Consultation RIS examines the impact of replacing the current diverse state and territory licensing of the refrigeration and air-conditioning occupational area with a proposed national licensing approach. It also examines an automatic mutual recognition option. The Consultation RIS seeks feedback on the scope and scale of the proposed changes, examples of the impact on licensees and businesses, on the durability of reform, and on the merits of reform under the different options for promoting a seamless national approach to licensing of refrigeration and air‑conditioning occupations. The COAG RIS for consultation was assessed as adequate by the Office of Best Practice Regulation.

On 13 August 2012, the COAG National Licensing Taskforce released a COAG Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (RIS). The Consultation RIS examines the impact of replacing the current diverse state and territory licensing of the plumbing and gasfitting occupational area with a proposed national licensing approach. It also examines an automatic mutual recognition option. The Consultation RIS seeks feedback on the scope and scale of the proposed changes, examples of the impact on licensees and businesses, on the durability of reform, and on the merits of reform under the different options for promoting a seamless national approach to licensing of plumbing and gasfitting occupations. The COAG RIS for consultation was assessed as adequate by the Office of Best Practice Regulation.

On 3 August 2012, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) announced an increase in apparatus licence taxes of the 400 MHz band from $99 per kHz of spectrum to $199 per kHz spectrum for high density areas of Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.  The ACMA’s analysis of the level of apparatus licence taxes indicates that the current taxes are approximately half of what a well functioning market would set for efficient use of the 400 MHz band. The “opportunity cost” pricing will be implemented by the ACMA over five years. A Regulation Impact Statement was prepared by the ACMA and has been assessed as adequate by the Office of Best Practice Regulation.