Government cuts red tape by nearly $6 billion

The Turnbull Government’s Regulatory Reform Agenda has cut compliance costs for individuals, businesses and community organisations by almost $6 billion since 2013.

Minister for Small and Family Business, the Workplace and Deregulation, Craig Laundy, today released the Annual Regulatory Reform Report, highlighting the Coalition’s record in making it easier for businesses and households to comply with regulations.

“Between 1 January 2016 and 30 June 2017, the Government took decisions to reduce the regulatory burden on businesses by more than $800 million a year,” Minister Laundy said.

The biggest single regulatory saving, worth $444m, came from the abolition of Labor’s Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal.

“This Tribunal was set up by Bill Shorten as Workplace Relations Minister in 2012 as part of a deal between Labor and the unions. It effectively pushed tens of thousands of owner-drivers – many small family businesses — to the brink of collapse, rendering them uncompetitive with big union-dominated trucking companies.

“The Turnbull Government is committed to ensuring that our regulatory environment makes life easier for businesses and households, encouraging growth and innovation in the economy. This has played a big part in our record of creating more than a million new jobs since 2013.

“This is in stark contrast to Labor. It sees passing legislation and adding to regulatory burdens as something to celebrate. Bill Shorten’s promise to bring back the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal along with other job-destroying demands dictated by the CFMEU and other unions would send the economy into a backwards spiral.

“We are not finished yet. Other initiatives underway, such as the National Business Simplification Initiative, will deliver real savings for businesses through simpler regulation and digitalisation of government services, so they can focus more on growing their business and less on regulatory compliance.

“The Government will continue its focus on cutting red tape, improving regulatory performance and ensuring regulations are fit-for-purpose,” Mr Laundy said.

To view the Annual Regulatory Reform Report: 1 January 2016-30 June 2017 visit: https://www.jobs.gov.au/reporting-deregulation-agenda