Published Impact Analyses

Regulation Impact Statement – Department of the Treasury

On 17 December 2021, the Government introduced a number of reforms around transparency and accountability requirements of proxy advice services and disclosure of superannuation fund voting records.

The Department of the Treasury prepared a Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) to address a lack of clear regulatory settings around proxy advice and the potential for conflicts of interest between proxy advisers and their clients. The preferred option included the following measures:

Department/Agency
Australian Energy Market Commission

Topic
Energy

Type
Ministerial Forum / Standard Setting Body

Announcement date
2/12/2021

On 15 December 2021 the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Water released the Post-Implementation Review (PIR) of the Competition (Industry Code – Sugar Regulations 2017.

The Department was required to prepare a PIR because the Prime Minister granted an exemption from the requirement to complete a Regulation Impact Statement due to urgent and unforeseen events in the export sugar industry.

The proposal was implemented in April 2017. A PIR was completed by the Department on 10 December 2021 and was assessed as compliant by the OBPR.

Department/Agency
Australian Energy Market Commission

Topic
Energy

Type
Ministerial Forum / Standard Setting Body

Announcement date
2/12/2021

Regulation Impact Statement – Department of Home Affairs

On 25 November 2021, the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Aff​airs and the Minister for Education and Youth announced Visa changes to support the reopening of Australia.

Department/Agency
Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources

Topic
Industry

Announcement date
2/12/2021

Announcement
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2021L01708

COAG Consultation Regulation Impact Statement – Ministers responsible for Consumer Affairs

On 14 December 2021, the Treasury on behalf of Consumer Senior Officials released a Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) for consultation on options to ensure businesses comply with the consumer guarantees and consumers can access the remedies to which they are entitled, and options to prohibit manufacturers from failing to indemnify suppliers.

Independent Review – Australian Competition and Consumer Commission

On 9 December 2021, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) announced it had made a decision to extend the existing declaration for the wholesale ADSL (WADSL) service.

Problem being addressed

A 2007 kava import ban in Australia has had a negative impact on bi-lateral relations with Pacific Island countries and the Pacific Island diaspora in Australia.

RIS decision

Standard RIS required

Proposal

The RIS examines the costs and benefits of undertaking a two-year trial to permit commercial importation of kava into Australia.

Prime Minister’s Exemption – Attorney-General’s Department

On 28 November 2021, the Prime Minister announced the Government will introduce legislation to force global social media giants to unmask anonymous online trolls and better protect Australians online.

The proposed measures will address the harm of defamatory comments made in Australia by individuals on social media platforms and address the legal implications of the High Court’s decision in Fairfax Media Publications v Voller [2021] HCA 27. The measures aim to: