Published Impact Analyses

Independent Review – Australian Competition and Consumer Commission

On 21 December 2020, the Assistant Treasurer, the Hon Michael Sukkar, announced a package of safety and information standards to address the hazards of button/coin batteries. The package includes two related regulatory controls covering two classes of ‘consumer goods of a kind’ – consumer goods that contain button/coin batteries, and button/coin batteries themselves. The controls include safety standards that will have physical requirements for the goods and information standards under sections 104 and 134 of the Australian Consumer Law.

Independent Review – Department of the Treasury

On 5 December 2017, the Government announced reforms of the administration and oversight of organisations with deductible gift recipient (DGR) status. The changes were designed to strengthen governance arrangements, reduce administrative complexity and ensure continued trust and confidence in the sector.

Consistent with the Government’s Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) requirements, the Department of the Treasury (Treasury) certified a number of documents as meeting the requirements of a RIS for these reforms. As per the arrangements at that time, the Office of Best Practice Regulation (OBPR) was not required to conduct any assessment of independent reviews or RIS-like documents certified by departments.

COAG Decision Regulation Impact Statement – Australian Energy Market Commission

On 17 December 2020, the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) released the final rule determination and rule titled National Electricity Amendment (Compensation for Services other than Energy and Market Ancillary Services) Rule 2020.

The AEMC has satisfied itself that the final rule promotes the interests of consumers, reduces administrative burden on AEMO and registered participants, and improves transparency, predictability, consistency and the allocation of risk.

The final rule will commence operation on 21 March 2021 to allow a period of three months for AEMO to adjust its processes and procedures to implement the rule.

COAG Consultation Regulation Impact Statement – Australian Energy Market Commission

On 17 December 2020, the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) released the draft rule determination and rule titled National Energy Retail Amendment (Bill Contents and Billing Requirements) Rule 2021.

The draft rule proposes to create obligations on the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) to create mandatory guidelines on bill contents for electricity and gas retailers to follow when issuing bills to small customers, which may also extend to billing frequency.

Independent Review - Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

On 9 December 2020, the Government introduced the Data Availability and Transparency Bill 2020 (the Bill).

The Bill establishes a new data sharing scheme which will serve as an alternative pathway and regulatory framework for sharing public sector data. It authorises the Commonwealth to share public sector data with accredited entities for three purposes, provided effective safeguards are in place. These three purposes are delivery of government services, informing government policies and programs, and research and development. The Bill also establishes an independent statutory office holder, the National Data Commissioner, to support best practice and regulate the data sharing scheme.

Regulation Impact Statement – Australian Securities & Investments Commission

On 11 December 2020, the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) released an updated regulatory guide on time-sharing schemes, RG 160 Time-sharing schemes.

Independent Review – Department of the Treasury

On 29 June 2020, the Australian Government announced application of the Consumer Data Right to the energy sector.

The Consumer Data Right provides consumers with greater access to their personal information, giving them the power to instruct businesses to provide safe and secure access of their data to trusted third parties. Applying the Consumer Data Right to the energy sector will allow consumers and businesses to more easily compare and switch between electricity plans and providers, encouraging more competition, lower prices and more innovative products and services.

Regulation Impact Statement – Attorney-General’s Department

On 9 December 2020, the Government introduced the Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic Recovery) Bill 2020 to provide greater certainty for casual employees and their employers.

The preferred option in the RIS introduces a statutory definition for a casual employee and provides a universal casual conversion mechanism as a National Employment Standard entitlement.

The Attorney-General’s Department prepared and certified a Regulation Impact Statement (RIS), which the Office of Best Practice Regulation (OBPR) assessed as good practice.

The RIS estimates the average annual regulatory saving of $14million.

Regulation Impact Statement – Attorney-General’s Department

On 9 December 2020, the Government introduced the Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic Recovery) Bill 2020 to make wide-ranging reforms to the enterprise bargaining system.

The proposed reforms are intended to reverse the decline of enterprise bargaining and includes changes in the following areas:

Regulation Impact Statement – Attorney-General’s Department

On 9 December 2020, the Australian Government introduced the Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic Recovery) Bill 2020 to, amongst other proposed reforms, allow extended term Greenfields agreements to be used in relation to the construction of major projects.