Published Impact Analyses

COAG Consultation Regulation Impact Statement – COAG Energy Council

On 8 August 2019, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Energy Council released a Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (the Consultation RIS) to explore options to improve transparency in the eastern and northern Australian gas markets.

The Consultation RIS focuses on addressing information gaps and asymmetries relating to gas and infrastructure prices, supply and availability of gas, gas demand, and infrastructure used to supply gas to end-markets.

The Consultation RIS has been assessed by the Office of Best Practice Regulation as meeting the COAG requirements for a COAG Consultation RIS.

COAG Consultation Regulation Impact Statement – Australian Energy Market Commission

On 1 August 2019, the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) released the draft rule determination for the National Electricity Amendment (Transparency of New Projects) Rule 2019 (draft determination) to improve the transparency of new generation projects in the National Electricity Market (NEM). The AEMC has also released the corresponding Draft National Electricity Amendment (Transparency of New Projects) Rule 2019 for consultation.

The Commission's draft rule:

On 24 June 2019, Safe Work Australia released for public consultation a Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) on the recommendations of the Review of the model WHS laws: Final report (the Review).

COAG Consultation Regulation Impact Statement – Australian Energy Market Commission

On 18 July 2019, the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) released the draft rule determination for the National Electricity Amendment (Wholesale demand response mechanism) Rule 2019 (draft determination) to provide a mechanism to facilitate wholesale demand response in the National Electricity Market. The AEMC has also released the corresponding Draft National Electricity Amendment (Wholesale demand response mechanism) Rule 2019 for consultation.

Facilitating wholesale demand response has the potential to lower wholesale electricity prices and help manage the supply-demand balance at a lower cost.

The draft determination has been assessed by the Office of Best Practice Regulation as compliant with requirements for a Council of Australian Governments Consultation RIS.

Regulation Impact Statement - Department of the Treasury

On 28 March 2018, the Australian Government introduced the Corporations Amendment (Asia Region Funds Passport) Bill 2018 to develop a mutual recognition scheme where collective investment schemes based and regulated in one country (home country) could be ‘passported’ or sold to other investors in the region.

Remaking sunsetting instrument without significant amendments – Department of Health

On 21 March 2019, the Department of Health (the Department) remade the Therapeutic Good Order No. 78 (the Order) without significant amendment.

The remade Order, Therapeutic Goods (Standard for tablets, capsules and pills) Order 101, reflects changes made to the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 since commencement of TGO 78 in 2009. It offers sponsors a choice to stay with existing requirements or to use requirements set out in an applicable monograph in the British Pharmacopeia (BP), the European Pharmacopoeia (EP) or the United States Pharmacopeia - National Formulary (USP).

On 3 April 2019, the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources made the Water Charge Amendment Rules 2019. 

The amendments update the water charge rules to improve pricing transparency and make it easier for operators to comply by:

• combining the three sets of water charge rules administered by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) into one instrument;
• making schedule of charges requirements clearer;
• simplifying the calculation and enhancing the transparency of termination fees; and
• simplifying the regulatory framework by largely returning the regulation of water infrastructure charges levied by on-river infrastructure operators back to Basin States, subject to an appropriate State regulatory framework being in place.

The changes will commence on 1 July 2020.

COAG Decision Regulation Impact Statement – Legislative and Governance Forum on Gene Technology

On 8 April 2019, the Legislative and Governance Forum on Gene Technology agreed to technical amendments to Regulations made under the Gene Technology Act 2000.

The technical amendments seek to address ambiguities in the regulations, update the categorisation of contained dealings with GMOs and clarify the regulatory status of organisms derived from GMOs.

The Office of the Gene Technology Regulator was compliant with the COAG Best Practice Regulation requirements, preparing Consultation and Decision RISs.

COAG Decision Regulation Impact Statement – COAG Energy Council

On 19 December 2018, the COAG Energy Council agreed to more stringent Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for air conditioners. Specific changes include: applying MEPS to single duct portable air conditioners, increasing MEPS for air conditioners with a capacity greater than 65 kW, reducing MEPS for double duct portable air conditioners, and adopting the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) standard for rating air conditioner energy efficiency on the energy rating label. The Council also agreed to increase New Zealand’s residential cooling MEPS to Australia’s levels.

The Department of the Environment and Energy was compliant with the COAG Best Practice Regulation requirements, preparing Consultation and Decision RISs.

Independent Review – Department of the Treasury

On 13 February 2019, the Government introduced legislation to provide a consumer data right (CDR) over banking data for individuals and businesses.