Page 329 - Week 01 - Thursday, 27 February 2014
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
Work is progressing on a second phase of the process to streamline approvals and licensing processes for outdoor dining areas. This reform has the potential to open up commercial space and create new atmospheres in precincts across the ACT, building on extensive work the government has carried out at local shops. I have also recently established a dedicated unit in the Chief Minister and Treasury Directorate to focus on regulation and process reform to ensure the momentum in this area is maintained.
Another part of ensuring regulation does not overburden both business and the community is to make it easy to comply with. As part of our digital agenda we have put significant resources into designing services which make dealing with government easier. They will save time, travel, paperwork and stress and they will save families and businesses money. It is worth knowing that both selected entries from round 1 of the Canberra digital challenge are developing projects with government to achieve this goal. DigiActive is working with TAMS on an online event permit system and Design Managers Australia is working with JACS on a new online capability for booking government services. This will continue to be a focus of our work on the government’s interface with the community.
It is also important to remember that major tax reforms to the business environment are creating some of the best business conditions in Australia. The raising of the payroll tax threshold to $4.7 million, the phased abolition of insurance tax and the accelerated abolition of conveyance duties for transactions in excess of $1.65 million are market-leading reforms happening here in the territory.
We are also actively contributing to the national deregulation agenda being pursued through the Council of Australian Governments. COAG’s deregulation agenda was announced following the December 2013 meeting and four areas have been identified as the starting point for further joint work on reducing duplication of regulation: end-to-end regulation for small business, higher education, early childhood, and manufacturing.
The government is fully aware of the need for balance in all of our regulatory activities, and often when there is commentary around them it is between stakeholders who will have a different view about where it is right to strike that balance. I can give you the example I am working through at the moment in relation to food safety. Many owners of food venues would prefer less regulation, while many customers who want to eat at those places would like more regulation. It is genuinely difficult to find the right balance in that area that will address the concerns of business and make sure the community is protected from the potential of very significant illness if something goes wrong.
We try to strike the right balance between public interest and individual concerns of businesses and other stakeholders. The process needs to be dynamic as technology and community attitudes evolve and as new regulatory challenges emerge.
Equally, there is far more to supporting our community, particularly our business community, than just through a two-dimensional view of regulation. In our broader economic agenda, our support during crises, our consultative approach to government, we are constantly working with the business community to make our Canberra business environment as dynamic and free to excel as we can.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video