Published Impact Analyses

On 24 March, the Government introduced legislation to level the playing field for the automotive repair sector, increasing competition and consumer choice. It does this by establishing a mandatory scheme for the sharing of motor vehicle service and repair information.

The National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse (the Scheme) Grant Connected Policy (Redress GCP) came into effect in January 2021 and restricts access to Australian Government grant funding for non-government institutions that fail to join the Scheme.

A Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) was prepared and certified by the Department of Social Services, and has been assessed by the Office of Best Practice Regulation (OBPR) as consistent with good practice against the Australian Government Guide to Regulatory Impact Analysis.  The OBPR noted the RIS contains a small number of elements where the quality of analysis or process could have been improved, including a more detailed articulation of the affected stakeholders and the inclusion of some case studies that identify the potential financial implications for non-government institutions that fail to join the Redress Scheme.

On 25 February 2021, a new Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) Governance Standard came into effect, requiring a registered charity to take reasonable steps to participate in the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse (the Scheme) if the entity has been named, or is likely to be named, in an application to the Scheme.

The Scheme aims to recognise and alleviate the impact of past child sexual abuse that occurred in an institutional context, providing a simple, trauma‑informed way to access redress.

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 consistent with good practice.

On 12 March 2021, the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications remade with only minor amendments the Telecommunications Regulations 2001, which was due to sunset on 1 April 2021. The newly remade Telecommunications Regulations 2021 will now sunset on 1 April 2031.

Consistent with Government’s Regulation Impact Statement requirements for sunsetting instruments, the Department has, after consultation with stakeholders, assessed the instrument as operating effectively and efficiently. Therefore, a Regulation Impact Statement is not required for remaking this instrument.

On 18 March 2021, General the Honourable David Hurley, Governor-General of Australia, remade the Australian Postal Corporation Regulations 1996 with only minor amendments, which were due to sunset on 1 April 2021. The newly remade Australian Postal Corporation Regulations 2021 will sunset on 22 March 2031.

Consistent with Government’s Regulation Impact Statement requirements for sunsetting instruments, the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications has, after consultation with stakeholders, assessed the instrument as operating effectively and efficiently. Therefore, a Regulation Impact Statement is not required for remaking this instrument.

On 18 March 2021, the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications remade with only minor amendments the Spam Regulations 2021 which was due to sunset on 1 April 2021. The newly remade Spam Regulations 2021 will now sunset on 1 April 2031.

Consistent with Government’s Regulation Impact Statement requirements for sunsetting instruments, the Department has, after consultation with stakeholders, assessed the instrument as operating effectively and efficiently. Therefore, a Regulation Impact Statement is not required for remaking this instrument.

On 18 March 2021, the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) released the rule determination and rule titled National Energy Retail Amendment (Bill contents and billing requirements) Rule 2021 No. 2.

The rule creates 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.

The National Energy Retail Amendment (Bill contents and billing requirements) Rule 2021 No. 2 has been assessed by the Office of Best Practice Regulation as compliant with requirements for a Council of Australian Governments Decision RIS.

Please note: any accessibility queries should be directed to the Australian Energy Market Commission

On 17 March 2021, the Government introduced a Bill into Parliament to reform Australia’s Offshore Banking Unit (OBU) regime to avoid Australia’s continued designation, by the OECD and European Union, as having a harmful tax regime.

The Prime Minister granted an exemption from the Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) requirements because the publication of sensitive impact analysis and information about consultations could cause unintended market effects or lead to speculative behaviour which would not be in the national interest, in particular as consultations are ongoing.

Consistent with the Australian Government’s RIS requirements, a post-implementation review must be completed by the Treasury within two years of implementation.

On 12 March, the Australian Government announced reforms to the regulatory arrangements governing relationships between automotive manufacturers and franchise automotive dealerships.

The announced measures involve:

On 11 March 2021, the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) released the rule determination and rule titled National Electricity Amendment (Semi-Scheduled Generator Dispatch Obligations) Rule 2021 No 2.

The rule seeks to address the issue of semi- scheduled generators curtailing generation in response to market prices without rebidding or waiting for an updated dispatch instruction from AEMO.

This rule change progresses one of the interim security measures developed by the COAG Energy Council Energy Security Board that is expected to improve outcomes while more fundamental reforms are designed and implemented through a longer term market design process.