Published impact analyses

Regulation Impact Statement – Department of Communications and the Arts

On 22 June 2017 the Government introduced the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Competition and Consumer) Bill 2017 to Parliament.

Amongst other measures, the Bill amends Parts 7 and 8 of the Telecommunications Act 1997 and Part XIC of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 to enable new superfast networks to operate on a functionally separated basis with the approval of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commissions (ACCC). Under previous arrangements, superfast networks were required to separate structurally in order to provide services to retailers in conjunction with wholesale services. Functional separation allows these entities to avoid the costs associated with structural separation on the condition that the entities functionally separate their wholesale and retail services.

Regulation Impact Statement - Department of the Treasury

On 13 February 2019, the Government introduced the Treasury Laws Amendment (Australian Business Securitisation Fund) Bill 2019 to establish an Australian Business Securitisation Fund (ABSF) to assist the development of the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) securitisation market and improve SME lending conditions.

If enacted, the ABSF will facilitate access to securitised funding and related warehouse funding by lenders (banks and non-bank lenders) to SMEs. This is intended to allow smaller banks and non-bank lenders to compete more effectively against the four major banks, which in turn, may lead to reduced prices in the market, increased diversity of SME lending products and increased access to finance for SMEs.

COAG Decision Regulation Impact Statement – The Australian Building Codes Board

On 18 December 2018, the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) released a Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) examining the impact of proposed amendments to the National Construction Code to implement separate heating and cooling load limits for assessments subject to the Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) compliance pathway for Class 1 and Class 2 dwellings, and Class 4 parts of buildings, in relevant climate zones. This change will be reflected in NCC 2019 and subject to a one year transition, take effect from 1 May 2020.

COAG Decision Regulation Impact Statement – National Transport Commission

On 15 November 2018, the Transport Ministers endorsed the Safety Assurance approach for the introduction of automated vehicles in Australia at first supply.  A Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) considered that the current regulatory environment could result in:

Consultation Regulation Impact Statement - Department of Industry, Innovation and Science

On 20 December 2018, the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science (the Department) released a Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) to explore policy responses to new car dealers’ concerns with their franchising relationships with car manufacturers.

COAG Decision Regulation Impact Statement – COAG Energy Council

On 19 December 2018, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Energy Council agreed to implement the Retailer Reliability Obligation (RRO) for the National Electricity Market (NEM).

COAG Decision Regulation Impact Statement – The Australian Building Codes Board

On 21 December 2018, the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) released a Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) examining the impact of proposed amendments to the National Construction Code (NCC) to improve energy efficiency in relation to commercial buildings. Amendments to Section J of the NCC will be available for viewing on the ABCB website in February 2019 and subject to a one year transition will take effect on 1 May 2020.

The Decision Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) for this proposal considered the impact of proposed changes to the stringency of energy efficiency provisions in the NCC in relation to commercial buildings (Class 3, 5-9 buildings and common areas of Class 2 buildings).

Decision Regulation Impact Statement– The Australian Building Codes Board

On 18 December 2018, the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) released a Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) examining the impact of proposed amendments to the National Construction Code (NCC) to require the construction of separate accessible adult change facilities (AACF) in public buildings including shopping centres and other public assembly buildings.

AACFs are sanitary facilities with additional features to assist people with more profound or complex disability who are unable to use standard accessible facilities independently. NCC 2019 will require the construction of AACFs in the following public buildings:

COAG Decision Regulation Impact Statement – COAG Energy Council

On 19 December 2018, the Council of Australian Governments Energy Council agreed, based on modelled benefits, that minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) and mandatory labelling would be introduced for swimming pool pumps.

The new regulations would commence with a low level MEPS and mandatory labelling requirement, and are expected to be introduced in 2020 - 12 months after Australian Standard AS 5102.1‑2009 is updated with a more reliable and robust method for testing pool pumps. Following a review to consider the effect of MEPS and mandatory labelling on the market, a medium level MEPS would be introduced two years later in 2022.

Regulation Impact Statement – Department of the Treasury

On 28 March 2018, the Government introduced legislation to extend Single Touch Payroll reporting to all employers.