Page 4454 - Week 14 - Thursday, 28 November 2013
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The government recognises, though, that red tape reduction is an ongoing task. Further areas of potential reform have been identified and we are working closely with relevant industry sectors in the short term, with the clubs and hotels and with the hospitality sector, and around event coordination and planning.
The Gaming Machine (Red Tape Reduction) Amendment Bill 2013, introduced by the Minister for Racing and Gaming on 22 October of this year contributes to reducing the regulatory burden in the club and hospitality sector. I also note that the scope of reducing red tape is not just limited to business. Where regulations impact negatively on productivity, the government will endeavour to investigate and address these concerns. For example, significant work has commenced on reducing red tape in the community sector.
Changes introduced so far include requiring community sector organisations to report on their funding agreements annually rather than every six months, and requiring incorporated associations to appoint an auditor registered under the Corporations Act only if their gross receipts are greater than $1 million, a doubling of the previous threshold of $500,000. The government is continuing to work on other red tape reduction measures in the community sector. I will have further announcements to make on that in due course. Like their business sector counterparts, the not for profit and community sectors can utilise the “fix my red tape” website to provide feedback, suggest reforms, ask questions or lodge complaints. I certainly encourage people to take up that opportunity.
A key question in identifying and reducing red tape is to consider whether regulation is required or if policy objectives can be achieved by an alternative measure with lower costs. The Treasury Directorate has recently undertaken community consultation in relation to an issues paper on regulatory impact assessment in the territory. That consultation process closed last month and the government will consider the outcomes shortly. The government is indeed serious about reducing red tape. The measures that I have already announced indicate that. (Time expired.)
Discussion concluded.
Freedom of Information Bill 2013—exposure draft
Paper and statement by member
MR RATTENBURY (Molonglo) (4.25): Picking up from where we were just before lunch, I present the following papers:
Freedom of Information Bill 2013—
Exposure draft.
Explanatory statement to the exposure draft.
Invitation for community consultation.
an exposure draft of the Freedom of Information Bill 2013 and a draft explanatory statement.
In the 200 years since the first statutory system for accessing government information was put in place in Sweden, the ability for citizens to access government information
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