Published Impact Analyses

COAG Consultation Regulation Impact Statement – Transport and Infrastructure Council

On 24 July 2018, the Transport and Infrastructure Council of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) released a Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) to explore the costs and benefits of options for the implementation of independent price regulation of heavy vehicle charges.

The Transport and Infrastructure Council agreed in May 2015 to a Heavy Vehicle Road Reform program that included in-principle agreement to implement a forward-looking cost base for road expenditure and independent price regulation. The RIS examines two options to progress the implementation of this commitment:

Independent Review (RIS-like process) – Department of Agriculture and Water Resources

On 2 July 2018, the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources adopted the Basin Plan Amendment Instrument (No.1) 2018 (the Instrument). The Instrument commenced in law on 3 July 2018. The instrument amends the Basin Plan 2012 to implement changes arising from the Northern Basin Review of sustainable diversion limits (SDLs), groundwater reviews and other groundwater amendments and the Australian Government’s response to the independent review of the Water Act 2007 (Cth).

The Instrument has the same effect as the Basin Plan Amendment Instrument 2017 (No.1), which was disallowed by the Parliament on 14 February 2018. 

Regulation Impact Statement – Department of the Treasury

On 21 June 2018, the Government introduced the Treasury Laws Amendment (Protecting Your Superannuation Package) Bill 2018 to limit the erosion of superannuation balances, particularly for low balance and young members.

The amendments cap certain fees on superannuation accounts with balances of less $6,000 to protect them from disproportionately high fees. Under the amendments, trustees are prevented from providing opt‑out insurance to new members aged under 25 years, members with balances below $6,000 and members with inactive accounts.The amendments also ban exit fees on all superannuation products and strengthen the ATO’s role in reuniting small, inactive balances.

Australian Maritime Safety Authority

On 22 June 2018, the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (the Authority) made an Order under the Navigation Act 2012 that provides for the certification of vessels that carry livestock and specifies requirements for the carriage and stowage of livestock.

Remaking of Sunsetting Instrument without Significant Amendments – Department of Communications and the Arts

On 19 June 2018 the Minister for Communications remade the Carrier Licence Conditions (Networks supplying Superfast Carriage Services to Residential Customers) Declaration 2014 (the Declaration) without significant amendments.  The Declaration was scheduled to sunset on 30 June 2018.

The Declaration, which is made by the Minister under subsection 63(5) of the Telecommunications Act 1997, was first made in 2014 to impose functional separation and wholesale supply obligations on certain new superfast networks with a view to supporting competition.  It was remade with minor changes to improve transparency in December 2016.

Regulation Impact Statement – Department of Communications and the Arts

On 6 July 2018 the Minister for Communications directed the Australian Communications and Media Authority, in determining procedures to be applied for allocating spectrum in the 3.6 GHz band, to ensure that no person or specified group of persons may use more than an aggregate of 60 MHz of spectrum in each metropolitan area, or an aggregate of 80 MHz in each regional area, in the frequency range 3400-3700 MHz.

A Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) was prepared and certified by the Department of Communications and the Arts, and was assessed as compliant with the Government’s RIS requirements by the Office of Best Practice Regulation (OBPR).

Consultation Regulation Impact Statement - Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation

On 11 July 2018 the Food Regulation Standards Committee (FRSC) released a Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) on behalf of the Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation. The RIS explores regulatory and non-regulatory options for labelling of sugars on packaged foods and drinks for sale in Australia and New Zealand, with the aim of ensuring food labels provide adequate contextual information about sugars to enable consumers to make informed choices in support of the dietary guidelines.

Consultation Regulation Impact Statement - Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation

During 3 May to 14 June 2018 the Food Regulation Standards Committee (FRSC) on behalf of the Australia and New Zealand Ministerial Forum on Food Regulation (the Forum) undertook targeted consultation on proposed regulatory and non-regulatory options for pregnancy warning labels on packaged alcoholic beverages. Stakeholders consulted included industry, public health and consumer organisations.

The primary objective of the options being considered is to provide a clear and easy to understand trigger to remind pregnant women, at both the point of sale and the potential point of consumption, to not drink alcohol.  

Regulation Impact Statement – Department of Home Affairs

On 28 June 2018, the Government introduced the Modern Slavery Bill 2018 to establish a Modern Slavery Reporting Requirement (reporting requirement) for certain businesses and other entities in Australia.

The reporting requirement will require certain businesses and other entities with more than $100 million consolidated revenue to publish annual statements detailing their actions to address modern slavery in their operations and supply chains. The reporting requirement will apply to Australian entities and foreign entities carrying on a business in Australia.

A Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) was prepared by the Department of Home Affairs and was assessed as compliant and consistent with best practice by the Office of Best Practice Regulation (OBPR).

Independent Review – Department of the Treasury

On 28 March 2018 the Government introduced the National Consumer Credit Protection Amendment (Mandatory Comprehensive Credit Reporting) Bill 2018 to establish a mandatory comprehensive credit reporting (CCR) regime to apply from 1 July 2018.

Under the mandatory regime, large authorised deposit-taking institutions (ADIs) must provide comprehensive credit information on consumer credit accounts to credit reporting bodies. There is provision to extend the regime to other credit providers in the future.