Terms of Reference
A revitalised regulatory reform agenda will be delivered to modernise regulation to keep it fit-for-purpose in a digital era, protect against regulatory failures, and improve productivity through technology, data and digital reform opportunities and regulatory stewardship. The Regulator Leadership Cohort will inform and support development and implementation of the agenda.
Purpose and role
The Cohort will support the reform agenda and support better regulatory practice by:
- identifying and supporting ongoing reform initiatives under the revitalised regulatory reform agenda, including the safe and ethical use of technology and the Regulatory Policy, Practice and Performance Framework;
- supporting regulator maturity, skills and capability uplift now and into the future, with a focus on data and digital capability; and
- supporting the development of reform implementation plans, including for the Government’s APS Reform Agenda and the Data and Digital Government Strategy, which align with the revitalised regulatory reform agenda.
Membership
The Chair of the Cohort will be appointed by the Secretary, Department of Finance upon completion of an Expression of Interest process targeted at Commonwealth Heads of Regulators.
Core membership comprises of heads of a Commonwealth regulators or those responsible for a significant regulatory system/function/s in a Commonwealth department (SES Band 2). The Cohort Chair may invite other Heads of Regulators on an ad hoc basis to support targeted discussions.
ANSZOG will be an ex-officio member to provide multi-jurisdictional practitioner linkages, informed by ANZSOG’s National Regulators Community of Practice.
A member of the Department of Finance Senior Executive will attend each meeting and provide input and support as required. The Cohort Chair may invite Officials from agencies and experts external to the APS to attend as appropriate.
Operation and Secretariat
Meetings will be held tri-annually, with annual reporting to the Secretaries Board.
Regulatory Reform Division (Department of Finance) will provide Secretariat services and can be contacted at APSRegulatoryReform@finance.gov.au.
The Secretariat will support the Chair to convene the Cohort, coordinate a forward work agenda, distribute meeting outcome summaries and action and support connection between the cohort and other stakeholders.
The Cohort will be supported as required by cross-agency working groups, chaired and convened by a member of the Cohort or the Assistant Secretary of the APS Regulatory Reform Branch, and supported by the Secretariat.
The Terms of Reference will be reviewed by the Secretariat before conclusion of the initial 12-month term, with the future role and membership to be informed by the review.
