Media Release

58/2009
15 September 2009

Government Welcomes Productivity Commission Review on Regulatory Burdens

Minister for Finance and Deregulation, Lindsay Tanner today welcomed the release of the Productivity Commission’s Annual Review of Regulatory Burdens on business: Social and Economic Infrastructure. 

Lindsay Tanner said the review is part of an annual series of studies that the Productivity Commission undertakes to assess the impact of the current stock of regulation on business.

“The Productivity Commission conducts a review into the efficiency and effectiveness of existing regulations for a different sector of the economy every year.

“These reviews, all of which look at the impact of existing regulations on different parts of the Australian economy, identify areas where regulation needs to be improved, consolidated or removed.”

The Review of Regulatory Burdens on business: Social and Economic Infrastructure makes 42 recommendations on areas the Productivity Commission considers regulations could be less burdensome in sectors including aged care, education and transport.

Lindsay Tanner said this latest review was a useful addition to the suite of activities underway to improve the quality of Commonwealth regulation.

“Reviews such as this have been necessary because in the past there has been no process for regularly scrutinising the cost creep to business from poorly designed or outdated Government regulation.

“Since taking office the Rudd Government has been addressing this issue and has already introduced legislation to repeal over 30 pieces of redundant Commonwealth regulation.

“We have also agreed to reform 27 areas of regulation in partnerships with the states and territories through the Seamless National Economy national partnership agreement and commissioned the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development to undertake a wide ranging independent review of Australia’s regulatory settings.”

The Rudd Government will now consider the Productivity Commission’s findings and report.

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