Published Impact Analyses

Regulation Impact Statement – Department of the Treasury

On 5 December 2019, the Treasurer introduced the Treasury Laws Amendment (Research and Development Tax Incentive) Bill 2019, which implements a revised version of the Better targeting the research and development tax incentive measure announced in the 2018-19 Budget and introduced into the previous Parliament in September 2018.

The 2018 Bill was accompanied by a Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) that had been assessed by the Office of Best Practice Regulation (OBPR).

Independent Review – Therapeutic Goods Administration

On 12 December 2019, the Therapeutic Goods Administration introduced changes to the regulatory framework for prescription opioids to address prescription opioid use and misuse in Australia.

Changes will include:

Regulation Impact Statement for consultation – Department of Agriculture

On 20 December 2019, a Regulation Impact Statement on live sheep exports to, or through, the Middle East during the Northern Hemisphere Summer was released for consultation.

The RIS presents three options to manage the risk of heat stress in live sheep exported to, or through, the Middle East during the Northern Hemisphere Summer. The RIS considers the impacts of the status quo; prohibiting live sheep exports from 1 June to 14 September to all ports, with additional prohibited periods for Qatar and Oman; and implementing a revised Heat Stress Risk Assessment (HSRA) model.

More information on the consultation process, including how to make a submission, can be found here.

COAG Consultation Regulation Impact Statement

On 20 December 2019, the Department of Environment and Energy released for public consultation a COAG Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) on phasing out certain waste exports.

On 9 August 2019 at the meeting of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG), Australia’s First Ministers agreed Australia should establish a timetable to ban the export of waste plastic, paper, glass and tyres, while building Australia’s capacity to generate high value recycled commodities and associated demand.

COAG Consultation Regulation Impact Statement – Legislative and Governance Forum on Consumer Affairs

On 13 December 2019, the Treasury released for public consultation a Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) on Enhancements to Unfair Contract Term Protections.

This consultation RIS invites interested parties to provide feedback on options to enhance the unfair contract term protections for small business, consumers and insurance contracts. Reforms presented in the RIS are designed to address issues raised in the Review of Unfair Contract Term Protections for Small Business.

The Consultation RIS prepared by Treasury has been assessed by the Office of Best Practice Regulation as compliant with Council of Australian Governments’ Best Practice Regulation requirements.

COAG Consultation Regulation Impact Statement – Australian Energy Market Commission

On 19 December 2019, the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) released a draft rule determination and accompanying draft rule titled National Electricity Amendment (Mandatory Primary Frequency Response) Rule 2020.

COAG Consultation Regulation Impact Statement – Australian Energy Market Commission

On 19 December 2019, the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) released a draft rule determination and accompanying draft rule titled National Electricity Amendment (Victorian jurisdictional derogation – RERT contracting) Rule 2020.

This draft rule sets out a jurisdictional derogation to the National Electricity Rules (NER) to provide the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) with the flexibility to enter into multi-year contracts with providers of emergency reserves in Victoria. This will help address the short to medium term reliability challenges facing that state. The derogation is limited to the state of Victoria and will not be permanent.

COAG Consultation Regulation Impact Statement – Australian Energy Market Commission

On 19 December 2019, the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) released a draft rule determination and accompanying draft rule titled National Electricity Amendment (System restart services, standards and testing) Draft Rule 2020. The draft Rule aims to improve the provision and effectiveness of system restart ancillary services (SRAS).

COAG Consultation Regulation Impact Statement – Australian Energy Market Commission

On 19 December 2019, the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) released draft rules titled National Electricity Amendment (Introduction of metering coordinator planned interruptions) Draft Rule 2020 and National Energy Retail Amendment (Introduction of metering coordinator planned interruptions) Draft Rule 2020 and accompanying draft rule determination. The draft Rule will provide customers with shared fusing at their premises with greater certainty on when their electricity meter will be installed.

In addition, the draft rule:

COAG Decision Regulation Impact Statement – Australian Energy Market Commission

On 19 December 2019, the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) released the final rules titled National Electricity Amendment (Reducing customers' switching times) Rule 2019 and National Energy Retail Amendment (Reducing customers' switching times) Rule 2019 and accompanying final rule determination.

The final rule provides the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) with flexibility to improve their processes, allowing AEMO and industry to create and implement an improved customer transfer process.

The Commission considers these changes are in the long term interests of consumers because they: