Published Impact Analyses

On 23 September 2011, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry announced the Government’s response to the Productivity Commission’s recommendations on wheat export market reforms. The Government has agreed in-principle with the recommendations in the Productivity Commission’s report, including deregulating the wheat export market and reducing costs to growers and exporters. The recommendations are to be implemented through a staged process. The Regulation Impact Statement was prepared by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and assessed as adequate by the Office of Best Practice Regulation.

On 30 January 2012, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) announced measures, aimed at protecting sea lions, that alter management arrangements in the Gillnet, Hook and Trap Sector of the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF). The changes significantly reduce the number of fishing related Australian Sea Lion (ASL) deaths that will trigger the closure of the fishery to commercial net fishing. This will provide more protection to the many ASL colonies that gather food within the waters of the fishery.

On 27 February 2012, the National Transport Commission announced [] the release of a Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) on the Rail Safety National Law fatigue risk management requirements relating to hours of work and rest for rail safety workers. The Consultation RIS outlines four options for the nationally consistent regulation of hours of work and rest for rail safety workers. It aims to support the objectives of the Council of Australian Governments’ (COAG) transport reform agenda, to develop a body of uniform rail safety national law that utilises a co-regulatory approach and:

On 4 November 2011, the Standing Council on Transport and Infrastructure agreed [] to implement the Rail Safety National Law. The objective of the law is to develop a seamless and coordinated national approach to rail safety regulation and improve safety outcomes. It utilises a co-regulatory approach to risk management between duty holders and the National Rail Safety Regulator. A national system of rail regulation is a significant advancement in transport policy and is expected to cut business compliance costs. This initiative follows the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) and the Australian Transport Council directing the National Transport Commission to consolidate the seven state and territory bodies of rail safety law into a Rail Safety National Law.

Australia has developed a capacity building project to conduct regulatory impact analysis training for APEC developing economies. APEC is funding the project, which involves a series of training courses in interested developing economies during 2012. The project was co-sponsored by Mexico, New Zealand and the Russian Federation. The regulatory impact analysis training program supports the initiative from Australia, New Zealand and the United States on Good Regulatory Practices agreed by APEC Leaders in Honolulu in November 2011. Australia, Mexico and New Zealand will provide the training, and will be paired with interested developing economies. The training is aimed at senior economic ministry and regulatory officials. The first training course was provided by the Office of Best Practice Regulation to approximately 60 Russian officials on 9 and 10 February in Moscow.

The Governance Forum on Consumer Affairs (formerly the Ministerial Council on Consumer Affairs) has agreed to adopt the Co-operatives National Law (CNL). In 2007, state and territory governments agreed to implement nationally uniform legislation for co-operatives, to address inconsistent state and territory legislation and competitive disadvantages that exist in comparison to entities operating under the Corporations Act 2001.  The objectives of the CNL are to ensure that there are no competitive advantages or disadvantages for co-operatives when compared to corporations by providing:

On 9 February 2012, the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, announced that competition limits will be imposed on the upcoming auction of spectrum in the 700 MHz and the 2.5 GHz bands. This part of the spectrum is seen as very important for the future growth of mobile communications services in Australia. The limits are aimed at preventing the monopolisation of this spectrum by one party – a situation that could lessen competition in the mobile communications market. A Regulation Impact Statement was prepared by the Department of Broadband, Communications and Digital Economy and was assessed as adequate by the Office of Best Practice Regulation.

On 8 December 2011, the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) informed stakeholders of the decision to revise the National Construction Code to reduce the risk of slips, trips and falls in residential buildings. The decisions made by the board include requiring:

On 21 January 2012, the Prime Minister; the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs; the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy and the Minister for Financial Services jointly announced the Government’s plan to tackle problem gambling. Of the regulatory measures announced, the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (DBCDE) has responsibility for

On 21 January 2012, the Prime Minister; the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs; the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy and the Minister for Financial Services jointly announced the Government’s plan to tackle problem gambling. Of the regulatory measures announced, the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs has responsibility for