Published Impact Analyses

On 29 April 2021, the Governor-General of Australia made the National Consumer Credit Protection Amendment (Debt Management Services) Regulations 2021 requiring debt management firms that are paid to represent consumers on matters related to credit activities to hold an Australian Credit Licence (ACL).

A Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) was prepared and certified by the Department of the Treasury (the Treasury), which was assessed by the Office of Best Practice Regulation (OBPR) as adequate.

The RIS estimates the average annual regulatory costs at $43.4 million, with no regulatory offset identified.

Please note: any accessibility enquiries should be directed to the Treasury.

On 30 April 2021, the Australian Building Ministers Meeting met and agreed to include minimum accessibility provisions for residential housing and apartments in the National Construction Code (NCC) 2022 based on the Livable Housing Design Guidelines (LHDG) silver standards.

The Australian Building Codes Board prepared a Council of Australian Government’s Decision Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) to support Ministers' consideration of the proposals.

Accessible housing is housing that includes features to enable use by people either with a disability or transitioning through their life stages. The minimum accessibility standards for housing considered in the RIS are based on the specifications in the LHDG 2017.

On 22 April 2021, the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) released the draft rule determination and draft rule titled National Electricity Amendment (fast frequency response market ancillary service) Rule 2021.

If made, the rue would amend the National Electricity Rules to introduce new market ancillary service arrangements for the procurement of fast frequency response to help efficiently manage system frequency following contingency events during low inertia operation. The rule would create new very fast raise and lower ancillary services that would operate in the same way as existing fast raise and lower services.

On 1 March 2021, the Education Council released a Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (CRIS) with the aim to ensure that the National Quality Framework (NQF) is current, fit-for-purpose and implemented through best practice regulation. The RIS proposes options for change for the purpose of advancing the early childhood education and care sector in Australia. Proposals could result in changes being made to the Education and Care Services National Law, the Education and Care Services National Regulations or guidance material covering the operational application of legislative requirements that form part of the National Quality Framework.

The CRIS explores 21 issues relating to:

On 15 April 2021, the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources released a Regulation Impact Statement canvassing widespread reforms to Australia’s measurement framework for consultation.

The RIS sets out a range of issues with the current measurement framework and explores options to provide a pathway to a more effective and future-focused approach to regulating measurement within trade.

The RIS is seeking feedback from interested stakeholders and is accepting submissions until 14 May 2021. More information on the consultation process, including how to make a submission, can be found here.

The RIS has been certified by the department and was subject to an early assessment by the OBPR.

On 8 April 2021, the Australian Government released ‘A Roadmap for Respect: Preventing and Addressing Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces’. The Roadmap for Respect responds to all 55 of the Australian Human Rights Commission’s recommendations outlined in the Respect@Work: National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces (Respect@Work) report.

The Inquiry examined the nature and prevalence of sexual harassment in Australian workplaces, its impact on individuals and businesses, the drivers of this harassment and measures to address and prevent sexual harassment.

Consistent with the Government’s  Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA)  requirements, the Respect@Work report has been certified by the Attorney-General’s Department (AGD) as meeting the requirements of a Regulation Impact Statement (RIS).

On 25 June 2020, the National Transport Commission (NTC) released a Council of Australian Government’s Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) for consultation on a review into the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL).

In November 2018 Transport Ministers asked the NTC to lead the review of the HVNL and its supporting regulations. This was in recognition that the current law, which has been in place since 2014, may not be as effective as possible. The Consultation RIS looks at a series of options across nine reform areas within the HVNL that look to make it more performance-based and outcomes-focussed, which will improve safety, productivity, compliance and enforcement.

On 25 March 2021, the Government introduced amendments to the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (BSA) concerning the making of population determinations and the operation of related grandfathering provisions in the BSA, specifically in relation to commercial radio license holders (licensees).

On 6 April 2021, the Department of Health (the Department) released a draft Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) which presents reform options for the FSANZ Act. 

The draft RIS has been prepared as part of a review of the FSANZ Act that commenced in July 2020. The review is undertaking a comprehensive examination of the effectiveness of the FSANZ Act and the associated operations and responsibilities of Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). 

Of the three options presented in the RIS, Option 1 is the status quo (no legislative changes to the FSANZ Act), while Options 2 and 3 present alternative measures that could be taken to amend the FSANZ Act.

The draft RIS seeks Stakeholder views on the draft RIS and feedback to characterise the impact of the proposed options.

On 2 September 2020, the Government introduced the Higher Education Legislation Amendment (Provider Category Standards and Other Measures) Bill 2020 (PCS Bill) into Parliament. The legislation commenced from 1 March 2021.