Published Impact Analyses

On 2 March 2011 the Ginger Industry R&D Levy regulations were tabled in Parliament. The regulations introduce from 1 April 2011 a new statutory R&D levy on ginger payable to the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. The levy has been implemented under the Primary Industries (Excise) Levies Act 1999 and the Primary Industries Levies and Charges Collection Act 1991 The ad valorem levy rate on ginger growers is a half of one per cent (0.5%) on the sale of fresh ginger, seed ginger, organic ginger and ginger for processing, to be collected at the first domestic point of sale. Exemptions apply to fresh ginger sold on the export market, ginger sold direct to the public through farmers markets and roadside stalls and seed ginger used by seed producers to grow their own ginger. The levy will attract Australian Government matching payments for eligible R&D expenditure.

On 27 April 2011, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) announced changes to management arrangements for the Gillnet, Hook and Trap sector of the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery, by way of a temporary order. These changes include closures of fishing areas and new monitoring arrangements.  A regulation impact statement (assessed as adequate by the OBPR) was required to inform the decision to change the management arrangements but was not prepared. Consequently, the OBPR has assessed the proposal as being non-compliant with the Australian Government’s best practice regulation requirements.

The Minister for Defence and Minister for Resources, Energy, and Tourism jointly announced on 3 May 2011 the Government’s response to the Final Report of the Review of the Woomera Prohibited Area (WPA). The WPA is a Department of Defence test and evaluation area covering land subject to access demand from non-Defence users, particularly the resources sector. The response proposes a new framework for managing Department of Defence and non-Defence use of the WPA. A Regulation Impact Statement was required for this proposal, but the 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 19 April 2011, the National Marine Safety Committee (NMSC) secretariat announced the release of the Council of Australian Governments’ (COAG) Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) on the requirements for the application of the National Standard for Commercial Vessels - Part C Section 7A - Safety Equipment to existing domestic commercial vessels not currently required to comply with the standard. NSCV Part C Section 7A is one of the suites of equipment standards that cover the requirements for the design, manufacture, installation, stowage, marking and scale of safety equipment to be carried on vessels in order to minimise the consequences of accidents. Feedback from stakeholders is sought by the NMSC on the specific public comment questions contained within the RIS. Comment is also welcome on any other aspect of the RIS not specifically identified for comment.  The draft RIS for consultation was assessed as adequate by the OBPR.

On 1 April 2011, the National Marine Safety Committee secretariat announced the release of the Council of Australian Governments’ (COAG) Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) on the technical requirements for the design and construction of domestic commercial vessels with respect to arrangement, accommodation and personal safety to be included in the National Standard for Commercial Vessels (NSCV) - Part C Section 1 – Arrangement, Accommodation and Personal Safety. NSCV Part C Section 1 is a very broad standard that covers topics that include field of vision from the operating position, arrangements for navigation signals, passenger and crew accommodation on vessels, escape and evacuation, ladders, stairways, corridors, seating, guard rails, gangways, protection from machinery and so on. The NMSC seek feedback from stakeholders on the specific public comment questions contained within the RIS.

On 29 January 2010 the Minister for Infrastructure announced changes to the Maritime Security Identification Card scheme. The proposed changes affected around 125,000 card holders and card issuing bodies. An adequate Business Cost Calculator was required to be prepared under previous Regulatory Impact Analysis requirements in operation before 1 July 2010, but was not prepared prior to announcement. Under requirements applicable at the time, where a proposal proceeds (either through the Cabinet or another decision maker) without an adequate RIS or quantification of compliance costs, the resulting regulation must be the subject of a post-implementation review within one to two years of implementation. As the regulatory costs of the amendment mainly related to compliance costs, a post-implementation review utilising the business cost calculator was prepared and assessed as adequate by the Office of Best Practice Regulation.

On 9 March 2011, the Minister for the Status of Women, the Hon Kate Ellis MP, announced a suite of reforms to the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act and Agency (EOWA), following the Government’s 2010 election commitment to retain and improve the Act and Agency and the 2009-10 review into the Act and Agency’s efficiency and effectiveness.  The Regulation Impact Statement draws an assessment that by retaining the existing level of light and responsive regulation, with improvements, the reforms strike a balance between ensuring compliance and easing the burden for business.  The Regulation Impact Statement was prepared by the Office for Women in the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and has been assessed as adequate by the Office of Best Practice Regulation.

On 4 March 2011, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry announced the release of the Council of Australian Governments’ (COAG) Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) on a national scheme for assessment, registration and control of use of agricultural and veterinary chemicals. The consultation RIS considers broad options for the single national framework, consistent with the policy principles that COAG approved in August 2010. Feedback from stakeholders is sought on options for reform in the areas of governance, assessment and registration, control of use and training and licensing. The Consultation RIS was prepared for the Primary Industries Ministerial Council and has been approved by the OBPR. The consultation period closes on 11 April 2011.

On 23 February 2011 the Government introduced the Family Assistance Legislation Amendment (Child Care Rebate) Bill 2011 to implement its election commitment to provide families with the option to receive Child Care Rebate payments fortnightly from 1 July 2011. As an alternative to receiving the payment directly, families can opt to receive the payment via child care services as a fee reduction. Facilitating this was anticipated to impose a compliance cost on potentially all 14,000 child care services. The RIS prepared by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations concludes that due to the universal use of computerised systems and existing regulatory reporting requirements the impact should be small. The OBPR has approved the RIS.

The Government announced on 9 February 2011 it had introduced the Combating the Financing of People Smuggling and Other Measures Bill to Parliament. The Bill introduces amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 to strengthen the regulation of the remittance dealers sector. Remittance dealers provide international cash transfer services. Key changes include more stringent registration requirements for dealers and requiring remittance networks to undertake some compliance activities on behalf of their agents. A RIS was prepared by the Attorney-General’s Department and has been approved by the OBPR.