Social and economic infrastructure services (2009)

This study is now completed. The final research report was released on 15 September 2009.

In the third year of review the Commission focused on those regulations that mainly impact on the whole or any part of the social and economic infrastructure services. In broad terms, this included construction, utilities, health, education, transport and communication industries.

List of industries by ANZSIC category

The activities of these industries are regulated by a range of Australian Government authorities through a variety of instruments. Consistent with the Regulation Taskforce report, for the purposes of this review, 'regulation' included government rules that influence or control behaviour, as well as the administration and enforcement of these rules. This includes legislation and formal regulations (including treaties and co-regulation), as well as quasi-regulation such as codes of conduct and advisory instruments.

Amongst other things, the terms of reference require the Commission to identify specific areas of Australian Government regulation that:

1. were unnecessarily burdensome, complex or redundant or
2. duplicate regulations or the role of regulatory bodies, including in other jurisdictions.

Applying these criteria, and using submissions from interested parties, the Commission identified areas for reform which have the potential to deliver the greatest productivity gains to the economy as a whole. The Commission made 42 recommendations for:

• alleviating the regulatory burden on these sectors
• enhancing the consistency or reducing duplication of regulations, or the role of regulatory bodies, for the sectors.