This media release was issued with the annual report series, Regulation and its Review 2000-01, on 23 November 2001.

According to a Productivity Commission report, a high overall level of compliance with the Commonwealth Government’s best practice regulatory requirements continued in 2000-01, but with some variation across departments and agencies.

The Commission considers that there is still scope to improve the standard of analysis and timeliness in developing Regulation Impact Statements, particularly for significant proposals.

Chairman of the Productivity Commission, Gary Banks, said ‘Overall there has been a significant improvement in regulatory processes since the Government’s requirements for Regulation Impact Statements were introduced. The key to achieving further necessary gains is for agencies to integrate the Regulation Impact Statement requirements more fully into their policy development processes.’

The report — Regulation and its Review 2000-01 — forms part of the Commission’s annual report series of publications and meets its obligation to report annually on compliance with the Commonwealth’s requirements for the making and review of regulations. The Commission’s Office of Regulation Review is responsible for advising agencies concerning the requirements and monitoring compliance by portfolio. The Government requires departments and agencies to prepare Regulation Impact Statements to ensure regulatory action is well informed and achieves intended goals, while minimising any burden on business and the community.

The report provides detailed information on the compliance record of individual departments and agencies in 2000-01. It also suggests practical measures that agencies can adopt to better integrate the Government’s Regulation Impact Statement requirements.