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.
Published Impact Analyses
Official website for Published Impact Analyses for decisions announced by the Australian Government, Ministerial Forums and National Standard Setting Bodies.
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.
The protocol provides for a new investment partnership between Australia and New Zealand. Australia is increasing the threshold under which New Zealand investment will not require foreign investment screening from $231 million to just over $1 billion. This is the same threshold level applying to investors from the United States for access to the Australian investment market. Australian investors will receive a screening threshold to the New Zealand investment market of NZ$477 million, up from NZ$100 million. The new screening thresholds should reduce compliance costs for investors through a reduction in application preparation costs and fees. The RIS has been approved by the OBPR.
The Australian Building Codes Board has decided that they will proceed with amending the Building Code of Australia to include requirements for private bushfire shelters.
The RIS recommended that on balance developing mandatory guidelines for voluntary construction was the best option as it involves testing and accreditation of suppliers of private bushfire shelters that would best address the information mismatch. While mandatory guidelines may impact on behavioural decisions to ‘stay or go’, these risks can be mitigated to an extent through information built into the mandatory standard which emphasises that a private fire shelter is an avenue of last resort and should not be used as a replacement to more effective bushfire mitigation strategies.
The Decision RIS has been approved by the OBPR
A Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) for National Harmonisation of Work Health and Safety Regulations and Codes of Practice was released for public comment on 10 January 2011. The RIS assesses a package of national model work health and safety regulations and codes of conduct intended to replace existing state, territory and Commonwealth occupational health and safety regulations. For some businesses the proposed model regulations and codes of practice will introduce new obligations. The RIS contains the preliminary assessment that the proposed national harmonisation will deliver a small overall benefit to the community. This conclusion takes into account the costs for some businesses as a result of new requirements and the expected offsetting benefits for businesses operating in multiple jurisdictions, as well as benefits through improved safety outcomes.