Published Impact Analyses

On 15 November 2020, Ministers from 15 countries signed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, a regional free trade agreement that complements Australia’s existing free trade agreements with Indo-Pacific countries.

The Partnership contains commitments covering trade in goods, trade in services, investment, economic and technical cooperation, and new rules for electronic commerce, intellectual property, government procurement, competition, and small and medium sized enterprises.

A Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) was prepared and certified by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and has been assessed as consistent with Best Practice by the OBPR.

The OBPR considers the RIS contains a degree of detail and depth of analysis that is commensurate with the likely impacts of the proposal.

Post–implementation Review – Department of the Treasury

On 28 April 2014, the then Treasurer, the Hon Joe Hockey MP, announced the signing of an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) between Australia and the United States regarding the United States’ Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA).

FATCA aims to prevent US tax evasion by detecting income and assets held by US taxpayers in financial institutions outside the US. The Australian Government’s signing of the IGA required Australian financial institutions to report details of accounts held by their US customers to the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from 1 July 2014.

The Department of the Treasury was required to prepare a Post-Implementation Review (PIR) under the Government’s Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) requirements because of the significant impacts of the proposal.

COAG Consultation Regulation Impact Statement – Australian Energy Market Commission

On 19 November 2020, the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) released the draft rule determination and rule titled National Electricity Amendment (Semi-Scheduled Generator Dispatch Obligations) Rule 2020.

The proposed 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.

COAG Decision Regulation Impact Statement – Australian Energy Market Commission

On 19 November 2020, the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) released the final rule determination and rule titled National Electricity Amendment (Transparency of Unserved Energy Calculation) Rule 2020.

The final rule was issued through an expedited process that did not involve preparation of a draft determination and draft rule for consultation, rather, the AEMC determined the change was non-controversial and released a discussion paper to canvass public views.

COAG Decision Regulation Impact Statement – Legislative and Governance Forum on Consumer Affairs (CAF)

On 6 November 2020, the Legislative and Governance Forum on Consumer Affairs (CAF) agreed to strengthen the existing unfair contract term protections in the Australian Consumer Law. Key reforms include:

Regulation Impact Statement – Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications

On 28 October 2020, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, the Hon Michael McCormack MP, decided Australia should not accede to the Athens Convention relating to the Carriage of Passengers and their Luggage by Sea 1974, as amended by the 2002 Protocol (Athens Convention) at this time.

Independent Review – Department of Health

On 21 October 2020, the Government introduced the Aged Care Legislation Amendment (Improved Home Care Payment Administration No. 2) Bill 2020.

The purpose of the Bill is to change the payment of home care subsidy to approved providers to be on invoice for actual services delivered. Payment of subsidy for services provided will introduce a more contemporary business practice into home care subsidy payment arrangements and bring these arrangements into alignment with other Government programs.

The Bill amends both the Aged Care Act 1997 and the Aged Care (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997, and gives effect to the second stage of reforms to improve payment administration arrangements for home care packages announced in the 2019‑20 Budget.

Regulation Impact Statement – The Treasury

On 28 October 2020, the Australian Government introduced the Foreign Investment Reform (Protecting Australia’s National Security) Bill 2020, and the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Fees Imposition Amendment Bill 2020.

These Bills include a package of reforms to ensure Australia’s foreign investment screening framework keeps pace with emerging risks and global developments, whilst maintaining Australia as an attractive destination for foreign investment. The Bills improve and update operation of the framework across national security, compliance monitoring and enforcement, and integrity, as well as streamlining requirements and making technical changes to improve operation of the law. The Imposition Bill also simplifies existing fee arrangements

COAG Consultation Regulation Impact Statement – Australian Energy Market Commission

On 5 November 2020, the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) released the draft rule determination and rule titled National Energy Retail Amendment (Maintaining Life Support Customer Registration When Switching) Rule 2020.

The draft rule seeks reduce barriers for life support customers that switch retailer or distribution network service provider (DNSP).

COAG Consultation Regulation Impact Statement – Consumer Affairs Australian and New Zealand (CAANZ)

On 8 October 2019, the Treasury, on behalf of CAANZ, released a Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) for consultation on improving the effectiveness of the Consumer Product Safety System. The purpose of the consultation process was to determine how reform of the product safety legislative framework could improve safety outcomes for consumers, enhance clarity for businesses, and improve government’s ability to respond to unsafe products without imposing unnecessary costs.

The Consultation RIS was assessed by the Office of Best Practice Regulation as compliant with the COAG Best Practice Regulation requirements.