Annual Review of Regulatory Burdens on Business

Commissioned study

In February 2007 the Australian Government asked the Productivity Commission to undertake, over five years, a series of annual reviews of the burdens on business from the stock of Commonwealth regulation.

The ongoing five year cycle involves reviewing, in sequence, regulation which mainly impacts on the following areas:

• 2007 Primary sector (completed)
• 2008 Manufacturing sector and distributive trades (completed)
• 2009 Social and economic infrastructure services (current)
• 2010 Business and consumer services
• 2011 Economy-wide generic regulation and regulation not addressed earlier in the cycle

The review process is designed to ensure that all Australian Government regulations are efficient and effective, by recommending improvements that lead to net benefits to business and the community, without compromising underlying policy goals.

Currently, the Commission is examining regulations that have a significant impact on social and economic infrastructure services.

Commissioner Mike Woods and Associate Commissioner Siobhan McKenna are conducting this review.

Further information

• Productivity Commission to Commence Annual Regulation Reviews (external link), Treasurer's Press Release
• Terms of reference
• About the commissioned study process