March 13, 2013
Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington says it’s been rewarding to be directly involved in the release of a recent report by the Office of Best Practice Regulation (OBPR) to help reduce red tape for businesses.
In her role as Assistant Minister for Administration, Finance and Regulatory Reform, Mrs Frecklington said the OBPR’s Final Report provides a structure for the Newman Government to go about achieving its goal of reducing red tape and regulation by 20 per cent.
“I’ve been talking directly with businesses around Queensland to find out how we can help them and how government can drive regulatory reform and help restore transparency and accountability,” she said.
“We had an election commitment to establish the Office of Best Practice Regulation within the Queensland Competition Authority and I believe we have been able to achieve some great outcomes already.
“For example, motor vehicle repair shops are currently required to hold an environmental licence, authorising them to carry on their business in a particular manner.
“Although workshops will have to ensure their activities don’t cause environmental harm, they will no longer need a licence. This will result in a saving of $1545.50 in annual fees and a no more annual returns or licence applications.
“In fact, we have streamlined the approvals process for all environmentally relevant activities saving on average $20,000 in application costs, 150 pages of paperwork and 68 days of processing time. This will help businesses such as small feedlots, printers, boilermakers, powder coaters, concretors and cabinetmakers,” she said.
“From March 31, more than 9400 small business operators will no longer need to apply for a licence or pay an application fee, and no longer need to submit an annual return.
“These changes will save small businesses more than $6 million in annual fees, and will let them get on with what they do best … contributing to the economy and generating jobs.
“One of our biggest reforms has been increasing the payroll tax exemption threshold to $1.1 million this financial year, the first step in our six-year commitment to increase the threshold to $1.6 million.”
The OBPR Final Report identifies a range of priority areas, including 10 fast-track reforms and eight medium-term priorities.
“The Newman Government will consider the OBPR’s Final Report before responding to it, but we have already committed to adopting the majority of the report’s 50 recommendations,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“Importantly, the Newman Government has already started on its regulatory reform agenda, with more than 300 red-tape reduction initiatives implemented or underway.
“As part of these reforms, departments are now required to submit Regulatory Impact Statements for an assessment of their adequacy before releasing them for consultation.
“Ministers are also now required to propose up to three options to reduce or ‘off-set’ regulatory burdens when bringing forward any proposals that impose a new regulation or procedure on small business.”
The Final Report recommends a Whole-of-Government Regulatory Management System, with each Minister to be responsible for reform in their departments.
“Ministers will be allocated a red tape reduction target for their portfolio,” Mrs Frecklington said.
- The Office of Best Practice Regulation’s Final Report is available online
