Regulation Impact Statement Updates

Amendments to local content and local presence requirements for Regional Commercial Radio – Regulation Impact Statement – Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy

30th November 2011

On 24 November 2011, the Government introduced amendments to the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 to amend local content and local presence requirements for regional commercial radio. Local content and local presence requirements were introduced to ensure commercial radio services in regional areas provide local content and maintain a local presence if ownership changed.

Amendments will reduce but not remove the regulatory burden of these requirements for most regional commercial radio...

Better Regulation of Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals – Regulation Impact Statement – Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Aust Gov

29th November 2011

On 15 November 2011, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Minister Assisting on Deregulation announced details of reforms to the regulation of agricultural and veterinary chemicals. These reforms will better align the assessment effort with the risks posed and impose time limits for the regulator to complete assessments. The reforms also introduce a scheme for the continuation of approvals and registrations, otherwise known as the re-registration process, and a...

Non-compliance with best practice regulation requirements – Tuition Protection Service and other related measures – Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations

Aust Gov

28th November 2011

On 23 September 2011, the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations announced a decision to introduce a new Tuition Protection Service and other related measures.

The Tuition Protection Service is a single mechanism to place students when an education provider closes, or as a last resort, to provide refunds of unexpended course fees. A number of complementary initiatives are also being introduced including limiting the amount of pre-paid course fees that...

Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal – Regulation Impact Statement – Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations

Aust Gov

28th November 2011

On 22 November 2011, the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations and the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport jointly announced that the Government will establish the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal, which will have the ability to set pay or pay-related conditions to promote safe driving practices for truck drivers.

Despite road safety improvements, there are still an unacceptably high number of truck accidents. Speed and fatigue are often...

National Harmonisation of Work Health and Safety Regulations and Codes of Practice – COAG Decision Regulation Impact Statement – Workplace Relations Ministers’ Council

COAG

18th November 2011

On 9 November 2011, the Minister for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations announced that model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations and Codes of Practice have been approved by the majority of Australian jurisdictions by way of the Workplace Relations Ministers’ Council.

The model WHS Regulations support the model WHS Act. Codes of Practice are practical guides to achieving the standards of health and safety required under the WHS Act and WHS Regulations. The model WHS...

Realising the Digital Dividend: Spectrum Reallocation Declaration Regulation Impact Statement – Australian Communications and Media Authority

Aust Gov

15th November 2011

On 1 November 2011, the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy made a Spectrum Re-allocation Declaration stating that parts of the 700 MHz spectrum band (the digital dividend) will be subject to re-allocation under spectrum licenses. This declaration was made after the Minister received a recommendation from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to re-allocate parts of the 700 MHz spectrum.

The digital dividend spectrum affected by the...

Strengthening Australia’s Defence Export Controls – Regulation Impact Statement – Department of Defence

Aust Gov

15th November 2011

On 2 November 2011, the Minister for Defence Materiel introduced the Defence Trade Controls Bill 2011, into the House of Representatives.

Australia has an existing regime that regulates the export of defence related goods. This regime requires businesses to apply for permits and comply with permit conditions. The Bill enhances the existing regime to add controls regarding:

intangible transfer of defence and strategic technology; provision of services relating to defence and...

Export Certification Reform Package – Regulation Impact Statement - Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

Aust Gov

14th November 2011

On 5 September 2011, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry announced a new system of export certification for Australian meatworks.

The changes give businesses greater flexibility in how staff are deployed when not undertaking export inspection work and focus regulatory resources on risk areas. Where international agreements allow, accredited non-Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) personnel will be able to carry out audit and inspection functions...

Audit Quality in Australia – Regulation Impact Statement – Treasury

Aust Gov

10th November 2011

On 30 September 2011, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer released an exposure draft of the Corporations Legislation Amendment (Audit Enhancement) Bill 2011, the draft explanatory memorandum and a Regulation Impact Statement.

The reforms contained in the draft legislation include:

changes to the rotation periods for audit partners; requiring the larger audit firms to prepare annual transparency reports; changes to the functions of the Financial Reporting Council and...

Increases in Minimum Energy Performance Standards for Air Conditioners – Updated Decision Regulation Impact Statement – Ministerial Council on Energy

COAG

8th November 2011

In December 2010 the Ministerial Council on Energy (MCE) agreed to increase the Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for air conditioning units. Generally MEPS levels will increase by an average of 10%, and multi-split air conditioners will now be required to meet the same MEPS levels as all other non-ducted split systems. These requirements were to be implemented from 1 October 2011. The RIS that discussed the associated costs and benefits was assessed as adequate by the Office of...