Regulation and its review 2001-02

Annual report series

Regulation and its Review 2001-02 was released on 26 November 2002. The report forms part of the Commission's annual report series and meets its obligation to report annually on compliance by Commonwealth departments and agencies with the Government's Regulation Impact Statement (RIS).

The report continues last year's initiative of providing RIS compliance data for each Commonwealth department and agency, as well as for significant regulatory proposals. It also considers some emerging regulatory issues, including accounting for ecologically sustainable development and small business impacts, and regulatory compliance costs.

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Contents

Overall, compliance with the Commonwealth Government's regulatory best practice requirements was higher in 2001-02, according to a Productivity Commission report Regulation and its Review 2001-02.

Over 1900 regulations were introduced by the Commonwealth Government in 2001-02, with 145 regulatory proposals requiring preparation of a Regulation Impact Statement (RIS). Adequate Regulation Impact Statements were prepared for decision-makers for 88 per cent of these proposals.

The report provides detailed compliance information for individual departments and agencies in 2001-02. About 100 Commonwealth departments, agencies, Ministerial Councils and national standard-setting bodies have powers to make or administer regulations.

Productivity Commission Chairman, Gary Banks, said 'Good regulatory outcomes depend on having good processes for making regulations. Some significant progress has been made in the past few years. The key to achieving further necessary gains is for departments and agencies to fully integrate the Regulation Impact Statement requirements into their policy development processes. This is especially important for regulations with significant impacts on business and the community.'

Priority issues identified in the report include considering more fully compliance and paper burden costs of regulations, small business impacts, ecologically sustainable development, cost recovery and Trans-Tasman regulation review and reform issues.

The report meets the Commission's obligation to report annually on compliance with the Commonwealth's requirements for the review and reform of regulations. Regulation Impact Statements help to ensure regulatory action is well informed and achieves intended goals, while minimising any burdens on business and the community.

The Commission's Office of Regulation Review is responsible for advising regulators about the Government's regulatory best practice requirements.

Background information

02 6240 3330

Preliminaries
Cover, Copyright, Foreword, Contents, Abbreviations and explanations
Overview - including key points
Chapter 1 The rationale for regulation review and reform
Chapter 2 Compliance with RIS requirements
2.1 Assessment of RIS compliance
2.2 Primary legislation
2.3 Disallowable instruments
2.4 Non-disallowable instruments and quasi-regulations
2.5 Treaties
2.6 National regulation-making
Chapter 3 Compliance by portfolio
3.1 Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
3.2 Attorney-General's
3.3 Communications, Information Technology and the Arts
3.4 Employment and Workplace Relations
3.5 Environment and Heritage
3.6 Family and Community Services
3.7 Health and Ageing
3.8 Industry, Tourism and Resources
3.9 Transport and Regional Services
3.10 Treasury
Chapter 4 Compliance with RIS requirements
4.1 The contribution of the RIS process to better regulatory outcomes
4.2 Emerging issues
Appendix A The COAG Principles and Guidelines and the ORR
Appendix B Commonwealth legislation reviews
Appendix C ORR activities and performance
Appendix D Recent developments in regulatory review and reform in States and Territories
References

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