Attorney General’s Department

On 21 November 2016, the Attorney General’s Department wrote to the Office of Best Practice Regulation (OBPR) advising that the authority to certify Regulation Impact Statements (RISs) will be delegated to Senior Executive Service (SES) level officers in the department.

This is consistent with arrangements to improve flexibility in the RIS process by allowing agencies to delegate the certification authority to any Senior Executive Services (SES) level officers.

To ensure transparency, the certification to delegate authority has been published on the OBPR website, and can be found below.

COAG Consultation Regulation Impact Statement – COAG Energy Council

On 24 November 2016, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Energy Council released a Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) for consultation examining ways to improve the energy efficiency of residential and commercial lighting in Australia and New Zealand.

The Consultation RIS examines the adequacy of existing regulations on incandescent and halogen lamps, self-ballasted compact fluorescent lamps, double-capped fluorescent lamps and ballasts for fluorescent lamps. Additionally, it considers placing mandatory minimum energy performance requirements on light emitting diode (LED) lamp technology and non-integrated commercial luminaires.

The consultation period closes on 24 February 2017.

Regulation Impact Statement- Australian Prudential Regulation Authority

On 17 October 2016, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) released the financial prudential standard for margining and risk mitigation for non-centrally cleared derivatives.

Regulation Impact Statement – The Treasury

On 12 October 2016, the Treasurer introduced the Register of Foreign Ownership of Agricultural Land Amendment (Water) Bill 2016. The bill would establish a Register of Foreign Ownership of Water Entitlements.

A Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) was prepared and certified by the Treasury under the Australian Government’s best practice regulation requirements. The Office of Best Practice Regulation (OBPR) assessed the RIS as compliant and consistent with best practice.

The RIS estimates the measure will increase regulatory costs by $0.1 million per year. The OBPR agreed to the estimate.

COAG Consultation Regulation Impact Statement – swimming pool pumps

On 14 November 2016, the Department of the Environment and Energy released a Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) as part of the Energy Council’s Equipment Energy Efficiency (E3) Programme. The Consultation RIS examines options to improve the energy efficiency of residential pool and spa pumps.

The Consultation RIS considers the introduction of mandatory energy efficiency labelling of all pool and spa pumps and minimum energy performance standards. Feedback is sought on the RIS including responses to some or all of the questions posed.

Regulation Impact Statement – Department of the Treasury

On 9 November 2016, the Government introduced legislation to make the superannuation system fairer and more fiscally sustainable; encourage and provide more opportunities for people to save for their retirement; and improve the integrity of the superannuation system to ensure that it is used for the purpose of providing income in retirement to substitute or supplement the age pension and not for tax minimisation and estate planning purposes.

A Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) prepared by the Department of the Treasury has been assessed as compliant with the Government’s RIS requirements.

Regulation Impact Statement for Consultation – Australian Building Codes Board

In November 2016, the Australian Buildings Codes Board (ABCB) released a Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) which assesses the need for fire hose reels in new office buildings.

This Consultation RIS considers whether the fire safety objectives of the National Construction Code (NCC) for Class 5 (office) buildings can be more cost effectively achieved by removing the requirement to install fire hose reels.

The Consultation RIS has been approved by the OBPR.

The Treasury

The Treasury is remaking the Banking Regulations 1966, which are scheduled to sunset on 1 April 2017, without significant amendments. The Banking Regulations 1966 specify the thresholds and conditions for the Government’s deposit guarantee and unclaimed monies regime.

The remade Regulation will repeal redundant provisions, simplifying language and restructure provisions that are difficult to navigate. These changes will not alter the substantive meaning or operation of the provisions.

Consistent with the Australian Government’s best practice regulation requirements for sunsetting instruments, the Treasury has assessed that the regulation is operating effectively and efficiently. Therefore, under the Government’s best practice requirements, a Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) is not required for remaking this Regulation.

Regulation Impact Statement – Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development

On 13 Oct 2016, the Government amended the Aviation Transport Security Regulations 2005 through the Aviation Transport Security Amendment (Cargo) Regulations 2016 (the Regulation).

The Regulation is to give effect to new air cargo security arrangements for US-Bound air cargo which will meet the United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requirement for all US-Bound air cargo to be examined at a piece level. The changes will impose significant costs on exporters, freight forwarders, cargo terminal operators and aircraft operators but will allow efficient compliance with the US requirements. The TSA agreed to a two-year phased transition to the new air cargo security arrangements with them commencing on 1 July 2017, allowing Australian industry some time to adapt.

Regulation Impact Statement – Attorney-General’s Department

On 19 October 2016, the Privacy Amendment (Notifiable Data Breaches) Bill 2016 was introduced in Parliament. The Bill will require individuals to be notified when their private information has been breached. Organisations regulated under the Privacy Act, with turnover above $3 million, will be required to notify individuals of data breaches.