47/2008
18 December 2008
Lindsay Tanner, Minister for Finance and Deregulation, today released the Government’s response to the Productivity Commission’s Research Report: Annual Review of Regulatory Burdens on Business: Primary Sector.
Lindsay Tanner said: “As part of the Government’s deregulation agenda, we are committed to reducing red tape for all businesses and consumers. The annual Productivity Commission reviews help us to identify red tape in specific sectors of the economy.”
The report set out the Productivity Commission’s responses to industry regulatory concerns, which emerged from extensive consultations with business, government agencies and community groups. Industry concerns covered a wide range of regulated schemes and activities in the primary sector, ranging from marketing schemes, infrastructure access and animal welfare through to transport and fish stock preservation.
Of the 61 Productivity Commission responses, the Government has accepted 36 and accepted a further 13 in principle. The remaining responses were either noted or not accepted as the Government already has other reform processes underway.
The Government has already taken substantive action in respect of a number of the higher profile areas that the Report addresses. These include the commencement of the Wheat Marketing Act 2008 that abolished the single desk; the recent Reef Summit for the Great Barrier Reef that identified key principles to underpin an updated Reef Water Quality Protection Plan; and a number of issues that were advanced through the COAG Business Regulation and Competition Working Group’s seamless national economy National Partnership Agreement.
Lindsay Tanner said: “The Government’s response highlights the action it has taken through 2008 to address unnecessary regulatory burdens identified by businesses in the agriculture, resources, fishing and forestry industries.”
Media Contact: Nardia Dazkiw, 0418 144 690
