Note: On 1 July 2026 the Australian Government Impact Analysis Framework came into effect. Any references in this guidance note to the previous version of the impact analysis framework are no longer current. Please refer to the new framework or contact the OIA if you have any questions.
The Australian Government Guide to Policy Impact Analysis discusses the importance of avoiding imposing unnecessary regulatory burden on businesses, individuals and community organisations.
All new regulations or changes to existing regulations need to quantify the increase or decrease in regulatory costs imposed on businesses, community organisations and individuals using the Regulatory Burden Measurement Framework. All impact analyses need to be accompanied by a regulatory burden estimate.
This guidance note provides advice on how to calculate regulatory burden using the Regulatory Burden Measurement Framework.