The Coalition will take an axe to Federal Government red tape if it’s elected, Federal Member for Wide Bay Warren Truss said today, with new figures confirming local businesses and community groups are being squeezed by more red tape than ever.
“New data shows the Rudd-Gillard Labor Government has introduced 20,900 new regulations since it was elected in 2008,” Mr Truss said, “but it has abolished only 104.”
“Labor promised to cut red-tape, on a one regulation in / one regulation out basis. Instead, red tape has exploded and local businesses are burdened more than ever.
“Red tape is making it even more difficult for small businesses and community groups to do their jobs, with local people telling me they are spending more time and money complying with Government regulations.
“For a small business person running a cafe, newsagency, or lawn mowing business this means less time with customers, less time earning money and less time with their families.”
Mr Truss said the new data confirmed the findings of the National Red Tape Survey which found that 73 per cent of businesses report an increase in regulation compliance costs over the past two years.
“The Liberal and National Parties have a plan to cut red tape for small business in the South Burnett and Wide Bay. Our plan will cut $1 billion of red tape for businesses and community groups across Australia, every year.
“We are confident we can do it with red tape reduction policies such as abolishing the carbon tax and mining tax, establishing a one-stop-shop for environmental approvals and having dedicated Parliamentary sitting days to repeal unnecessary regulations.”
Mr Truss said the Coalition’s recently released Discussion Paper on Deregulation Reform also identified other proposals such as:
- Requiring government departments and agencies to reduce red tape every year
- Creating a dedicated unit in every department and agency charged with cutting red tape
- Linking pay and bonuses of senior public servants to quantified and proven reductions in red tape
- Establishing a national benchmark scheme for local councils to measure approval processing times and promote efficient administration and regulatory management practices.
“Regulation can be a very good thing, but over regulation destroys the incentive to work, or in the case of community groups, the incentive to volunteer.
“If we can cut unnecessary red tape we can make the country more productive, which means we can have more jobs and a better economy.”
Mr Truss encouraged local business owners to read the Discussion Paper on red tape which can be downloaded from http://nationals.org.au/Policy.aspx
