Page 4241 - Week 15 - Tuesday, 20 November 1990
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harmonisation, to the greatest extent possible, of our respective regulatory regimes. The heads of government and representatives agreed to a framework and a set of criteria for the rationalisation of regulatory activities undertaken by the different levels of government to remove inefficiencies brought about by varying regulatory regimes.
In addition to agreements on uniform national food standards to be regulated by a national food authority and to the application of mutual recognition in occupational licensing and professional recognition, the conference identified key activities for examination and consideration at following conferences. These include packaging and labelling, agricultural and veterinary chemicals, industrial chemicals and food inspection.
While I will not go into detail, it is certainly worth recording that the conference also placed major emphasis on other facets of micro-economic reform, particularly in relation to government trading enterprises, the national rail freight initiative, road transport, electricity generation, transmission and distribution, and the regulation of non-bank financial institutions. The directions set and the work commissioned in these matters also have the capacity to bring benefits to the ACT in the longer term. They are consistent with and will complement the Alliance Government,s own micro-economic reform agenda which we see as essential for the development of the ACT and the Canberra region.
The twin catalysts of the severe financial pressures which face the ACT flowing from Commonwealth decisions and my Government,s determination to create an efficient ACT public sector, suitable to our needs, have already put us on a path which will be assisted and reinforced by the longer term outcomes of the conference.
Mr Speaker, reform of intergovernmental relations in Australia will not be an overnight exercise. It will take much hard work and a high degree of commitment to change both at the political level generally as well as at the administrative level.
The extent to which the Special Premiers Conference outcome reflected a shared commitment to new ways of working within the Federation by leaders of varying political persuasions was most gratifying. This meeting also gives a fundamentally new role and life to the Premiers Conference process that will be ongoing, to ensure that enduring and significant change occurs.
Given the importance of a successful long-term outcome to the people of the ACT and the region, I trust, Mr Speaker, that the spirit of cooperation witnessed in Brisbane can be
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