Published Impact Analyses

COAG Decision Regulation Impact Statement – Australian Energy Market Commission

On 11 June 2020, the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) released a final rule determination in relation to the National Electricity Amendment (Wholesale Demand Response Mechanism) Rule 2020.

This final determination sets out a series of changes to the National Electricity Rules to facilitate wholesale demand response in the National Electricity Market, principally through implementing a wholesale demand response mechanism.

COAG Decision Regulation Impact Statement – Australian Energy Market Commission

On 21 May 2020, the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) released the final rule determination and final rules titled National Energy Retail Amendment (Introduction of metering coordinator planned interruptions) Rule 2020 and National Electricity Amendment (Introduction of metering coordinator planned interruptions) Rule 2020.

Independent Review – Australian Communications and Media Authority On 26 May 2020, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) announced changes to the 3.4 GHz spectrum licence core condition relating to unwanted emission boundaries. This change entails moving the unwanted emission boundary from 3740 MHz to 3840 MHz. The change to the 3.4 GHz unwanted emission boundary aligns with international standards for 5G frequency boundaries and ensures that licensees will not have to modify the relevant spectrum equipment to meet an Australian-specific condition. ACMA undertook public consultation and published two papers to inform its decision. These published documents include: • Review of the unwanted emission boundary – review paper; • Review of the unwanted emission boundary – outcomes paper. These documents detail the planning that the ACMA conducted on how to best amend the unwanted emissions condition and the associated risks in doing so.

Independent Review – Australian Accounting Standards Board

On 18 and 19 March 2020, the Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB) announced the introduction of new Australian Accounting Standards (AAS) – AASB 1060 and AASB 2020-2 – that provide a simplified reporting framework for Tier 2 entities and require certain for-profit private sector entities to prepare general purpose financial statements (GPFS), rather than electing to prepare special purpose financial statements (SPFS).

COAG Decision Regulation Impact Statement – Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB)

On 21 May 2020, the Australian Building Codes Board agreed to include in the Governing Requirements of the National Construction Code (NCC) 2019 Amendment 1 a process for the development and documenting Performance Solutions.

Following a number of high profile building failures, a 2018 review of building regulatory systems found public confidence in industry’s ability to deliver safe building outcomes was diminishing.  The approach to Performance Solutions was singled out in two recommendations, for their lack of adequate processes and documentation required.

Regulation Impact Statement – Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources

On 13 May 2020, the Australian Government introduced legislation to establish a Payment Times Reporting Scheme, which would require qualifying entities (large businesses with more than $100 million annual turnover) to report on their payment performance to small businesses (defined as businesses with a turnover of up to $10 million per annum). Introducing the scheme was an election commitment.

The RIS identified that long payment times from large to small businesses are a significant issue in Australia. In 2017–18, payments from large to small businesses were worth around $281 billion, with around $77 billion of payments paid later than 30 days. The cashflow and financing pressures arising from longer payment times in turn constrain small businesses’ ability to hire, invest and grow – and are associated with higher bankruptcy and exit rates.

Regulation Impact Statement – Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment

On 31 March 2020, the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment announced (https://www.agriculture.gov.au/export/controlled-goods/live-animals/livestock/information-exporters-industry/sheep-to-middle-east) new regulation to limit the risk of heat stress in live sheep exported to, or through, the Middle East during the Northern Hemisphere summer, from 1 May to 31 October inclusive.

The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment released a draft Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) for consultation on 20 December 2019 for a 6 week public consultation period. Stakeholder feedback was considered and consequential amendments made when preparing the RIS for publication.

COAG Decision Regulation Impact Statement – COAG Energy Council

On 20 March 2020, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Energy Council endorsed a Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) containing measures to improve gas market transparency, which are expected to generate benefits in terms of:

COAG Decision Regulation Impact Statement – Australian Energy Market Commission

On 2 April 2020, the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) released a final rule determination making changes to the frameworks for the procurement, testing and deployment of system restart ancillary services (SRAS) that need to take effect prior to the procurement of the next round of SRAS contracts by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO). These changes will allow AEMO, transmission network service providers (TNSPs) and other parties involved in the restoration of the power system to more effectively prepare for, and respond to, a major supply disruption, increasing the likelihood that energy supply can be restored promptly following a major blackout.

On 26 March 2020, the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) released a final rule determination to require all scheduled and semi-scheduled generators in the National Electricity Market (NEM) to support the secure operation of the power system by responding automatically to changes in power system frequency.