Published Impact Analyses

On 22 November 2011, the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations and the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport jointly announced that the Government will establish the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal, which will have the ability to set pay or pay-related conditions to promote safe driving practices for truck drivers. Despite road safety improvements, there are still an unacceptably high number of truck accidents. Speed and fatigue are often identified as the primary cause for a crash. However, there is some research to suggest that the remuneration for drivers is a factor in safety outcomes.

On 9 November 2011, the Minister for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations announced that model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations and Codes of Practice have been approved by the majority of Australian jurisdictions by way of the Workplace Relations Ministers’ Council. The model WHS Regulations support the model WHS Act. Codes of Practice are practical guides to achieving the standards of health and safety required under the WHS Act and WHS Regulations.  The model WHS Act, WHS Regulations and Codes of Practice achieve nationally harmonised work health and safety standards. With the exception of Victoria and Western Australia, jurisdictions have committed to implement the new regime from 1 January 2012. Achieving uniform occupational health and safety laws is one of the 27 deregulation priority reforms currently being delivered under the National Partnership Agreement to Deliver a Seamless National Economy.

On 1 November 2011, the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy made a Spectrum Re-allocation Declaration stating that parts of the 700 MHz spectrum band (the digital dividend) will be subject to re-allocation under spectrum licenses. This declaration was made after the Minister received a recommendation from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to re-allocate parts of the 700 MHz spectrum. The digital dividend spectrum affected by the declaration will be made available from the switch to digital-only television broadcasting in Australia. The ACMA is now preparing to hold an auction in late 2012 to allocate the spectrum defined in the Minister’s declaration. A Regulation Impact Statement was prepared by the ACMA and assessed as adequate by the Office of Best Practice Regulation.

On 2 November 2011, the Minister for Defence Materiel introduced the Defence Trade Controls Bill 2011, into the House of Representatives. Australia has an existing regime that regulates the export of defence related goods. This regime requires businesses to apply for permits and comply with permit conditions. The Bill enhances the existing regime to add controls regarding:

On 5 September 2011, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry announced a new system of export certification for Australian meatworks. The changes give businesses greater flexibility in how staff are deployed when not undertaking export inspection work and focus regulatory resources on risk areas. Where international agreements allow, accredited non-Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) personnel will be able to carry out audit and inspection functions currently performed by AQIS staff. Proposed new IT systems are also expected to increase efficiency for AQIS through better management of records. A Regulation Impact Statement was prepared by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and was assessed as adequate by the Office of Best Practice Regulation.

On 30 September 2011, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer released an exposure draft of the Corporations Legislation Amendment (Audit Enhancement) Bill 2011, the draft explanatory memorandum and a Regulation Impact Statement. The reforms contained in the draft legislation include:

• changes to the rotation periods for audit partners;
• requiring the larger audit firms to prepare annual transparency reports;
• changes to the functions of the Financial Reporting Council  and Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC); and
• enhanced powers for ASIC.

A Regulation Impact Statement was prepared by the Treasury and assessed as adequate by the Office of Best Practice Regulation.

In December 2010 the Ministerial Council on Energy (MCE) agreed to increase the Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for air conditioning units. Generally MEPS levels will increase by an average of 10%, and multi-split air conditioners will now be required to meet the same MEPS levels as all other non-ducted split systems. These requirements were to be implemented from 1 October 2011. The RIS that discussed the associated costs and benefits was assessed as adequate by the Office of Best Practice Regulation (OBPR) and was published on the website on 20 April 2011.    On 20 September 2011 the MCE amended its decision in response to concerns from some members of the air conditioning industry. The RIS was amended (outlined in an addendum) to reflect additional consultation with industry and regulators.  It also includes revised recommendations including to:

On 18 October 2011, the Treasurer made a declaration under section 95X of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010. The effect of this declaration is to remove the requirement for the approval of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) prior to price rises for certain Australia Post products.  Postage rates for ordinary letters weighing no more than 250 grams (currently the basic postage rate of $0.60, and large letter rates of $1.20 and $1.80) will remain subject to ACCC scrutiny and will effectively operate as ceilings for most other reserved letter services, but price rises for other reserved letter services will not require approval by the ACCC. In addition, Australia Post will have the flexibility to introduce new reserved letter services without reference to the ACCC.

On 2 November 2011, the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy introduced a package of reforms to ensure that basic universal telecommunication services are provided during and after the roll out of the National Broadband Network. These basic services include access to the ‘000’ emergency call service, access to a standard telephone service, payphones and phone services for people who are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment. The services will be funded through a combination of Government funding and the consolidation of two existing industry levies. A new government entity, the Telecommunications Universal Service Management Agency (TUSMA), will be responsible for administering contracts and/or grants for these services. The new arrangements will apply from July 2012.

On 23 September 2011, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry changed the regulations around the export of prescribed grains, fruit, vegetables, hay and straw and other specified plant and plant products. The order amalgamates the Export Control (Plants and Plant Products) Orders 2005 and Export Control (Hay and Straw) Orders 2005, brings the orders up to date with current international requirements and provides additional flexibility for exporting businesses to allow non-government employees to carry out certain inspection functions. A Regulation Impact Statement was prepared by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and was assessed as adequate by the Office of Best Practice Regulation.