Better Regulation
The Government’s strong commitment to microeconomic reform includes an ambitious better regulation and red‑tape reduction agenda. Sustained regulatory reform supports increased productivity and international competitiveness, deepens the supply potential of the economy, drives the ability of the Australian economy to adapt more quickly, and raises the potential growth rate of the economy.
There are two broad spheres of activity supporting the Government’s regulatory reform agenda.
Deregulation Policy Division
The Australian Government has initiated reforms aimed at improving productivity and international competitiveness. An ambitious regulatory reform agenda is an integral part of these reforms. Addressing regulatory constraints and reducing the level of unnecessary or poorly designed regulation on Australian business can make a significant contribution to lifting Australia’s productivity performance and growth prospects.
Deregulation Policy Division supports the Australian Government’s efforts to reform the stock of existing regulation and the flow of new regulation both at:
- the Commonwealth level; and
- the inter‑jurisdictional level through the Council of Australian Governments’ (COAG) Business Regulation and Competition Working Group.
Best Practice Regulation Making Processes
Regulations are essential for the proper functioning of society and the economy. The challenge for government is to deliver effective and efficient regulation — regulation that is effective in addressing an identified problem and efficient in terms of maximising the benefits to the community, taking account of the costs. Both the Australian Government and the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) have introduced processes for regulation making aimed at ensuring new regulation is effective and efficient.
Australian Government
Guidance material for ensuring compliance with Australian Government best practice regulation making processes are:
- Best Practice Regulation Handbook - Comprehensive description of the requirements for best practice regulation making.
- Preliminary Assessment form - For use by policy officers to help identify whether in-depth regulatory impact assessment is needed.
- Business Cost Calculator (BCC) - IT-based tool developed to help you identify and calculate the compliance costs of regulatory proposals.
COAG
For proposals dealt with by COAG, Ministerial Councils and national standards setting bodies the COAG Best Practice Regulation Guide should be used.
Office of Best Practice Regulation
The Office of Best Practice Regulation (OBPR) has been assigned a central role in improving the quality of regulation by administering the best practice regulation requirements for both the Australian Government and COAG. As part of the OBPR’s coaching and training role, policy officers are strongly encouraged to contact the OBPR early in the policy development process to ensure that the Australian Government’s or COAG’s requirements for best practice regulation are met.
See developing a regulatory proposal for overview information on the processes that apply for developing new or amended regulation or undertaking a review of regulation.
Contact for information on this page: deregulation@finance.gov.au