Julia Gillard intervened to kybosh swag of red-tape impact reviews
BY: MATTHEW FRANKLIN From: The Australian December 16, 2011 12:00AM
JULIA Gillard has intervened 14 times in the past year to exempt programs, including her new $10.6 billion minerals resource rent tax, from regulatory impact statements.
An impact statement, designed to detect and prevent needless red tape, was also not required for the government's National Broadband Network implementation plan or Wayne Swan's ban on home-loan exit fees.
Details of the exemptions have emerged in the Department of Finance's Best Practice Regulation Report for 2010-11, produced this week. The report shows Ms Gillard granted 14 exemptions from the normal rules in the financial year, up from only four in 2009-10 and six in 2008-09.
Labor introduced regulatory impact statements when it took office in 2007. They are designed to ensure regulations have efficient outcomes and do not place unnecessary burdens on business or the not-for-profit sector.
According to the annual report, projects or initiatives granted exemptions in the year to June 30 included changes to the TV anti-siphoning regime and the government's response to the Cooper superannuation review.
A series of tax reforms were also exempted, including the MMRT, reform of fringe benefits tax arrangements affecting company cars and changes to accelerated depreciation allowances for small business vehicles.
Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Peter Anderson said Ms Gillard had also refused to allow a regulatory impact statement into her Fair Work industrial relations laws.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/nationa ... 6223393811