AFR: Why we need a radical rethink on government red tape

AFR: In the early days of the Abbott government, ministers loudly celebrated regulation “bonfire days” – the repeal of redundant legislation as part of a red-tape reduction promise.

Deregulation, thankfully, has become far more sophisticated, with assistant minister Ben Morton last week detailing to a regulation review conference a useful, common-sense list of hygiene-like reforms that constitutes the federal government’s now more pragmatic approach to deregulation.

Many of the initiatives, such as digital forms, telehealth, virtual justice and electronic signatures, have been accelerated by the pandemic. The PMC unit has also been doing some very useful work modernising the whole area of solemn documents (statutory declarations, waxed deeds, etc) – something that promises to save $400 million a year for business and government.

Other initiatives include the sensible use of current business practice and software to capture key data. The government has given the Australian Bureau of Statistics $20 million to enable businesses to complete the quarterly Business Indicators survey through their accounting software.

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