17/2009
18 March 2009
Minister for Finance and Deregulation, Lindsay Tanner, today released the Government’s response to the Productivity Commission’s research report into regulatory burdens on manufacturing and distributive trades.
The Annual Review of Regulatory Burdens on Business: Manufacturing and Distributive Trades presented 23 responses to the regulatory issues that were identified in the consultation process with industry and government. The Government has accepted or accepted in principle 19 of these responses and is already undertaking substantive action in a number of the areas that the Productivity Commission Report addresses.
Lindsay Tanner said the Review of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) processes, jointly announced with the Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon in December, was an example of the work already being undertaken by the Government in response to the report.
Lindsay Tanner said: “The HTA Review will consider ways of streamlining, improving timeliness and better coordinating arrangements for approving new health technology, to support innovation without compromising consumer safety.
“The Government is also working through the Council of Australian Governments to address issues such as improving food standards and food labelling regulations and ensuring the cost of chemicals assessments are commensurate with the risks posed by those chemicals.
“The Government’s response to the Productivity Commission report not only sets out the action that will be taken, but also highlights initiatives that this Government has already undertaken to address unnecessary regulatory costs identified by businesses in manufacturing, retail and wholesale trade.”
This is the second in a series of annual reviews of regulatory burdens on business undertaken by the Productivity Commission. The reviews are designed to ensure that all Commonwealth Government regulations are efficient and effective, by recommending reforms which could offer net benefits to business and the community, without compromising underlying policy goals.
Lindsay Tanner said: “The Government is committed to reducing the level of unnecessary or poorly designed regulation, while ensuring that appropriate and responsible protections are in place.
“The annual Productivity Commission reviews help us to identify opportunities to address unnecessary red tape in specific sectors of the economy, which will contribute to improving productivity, supporting jobs and future living standards.”
A copy of the Australian Government Response to the report is available online: http://www.finance.gov.au/publications/response-to-the-pc-manufacturing-and-distributive-trades-review/index.html
| Media Contact: | Website: |
|---|---|
| Nardia Dazkiw - 0418 144 690 | www.financeminister.gov.au |
