Business Regulation

Governments should introduce new business regulation only where there is a clear-cut case for intervention. They also need to recognise the frequently invisible costs and unintended consequences of inappropriate regulation.

And effective federal–state relations are critical to progressing Australia's microeconomic reform agenda, to deregulation efforts and to national prosperity.

The BCA has successfully campaigned for reform of intergovernmental processes through emphasising the economy-wide importance of the role and functioning of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG).

But the progress COAG makes in the next 18 months will help determine Australia’s prosperity for the next decade.

Federal and state governments have shown that they can work together cooperatively and productively. They have agreed to a significant national reform agenda backed by new financial arrangements that give them greater flexibility to achieve agreed outcomes, rather than focusing on inputs.

We strongly endorse the COAG commitments – but we are looking for implementation, not more agreements, particularly in:

Occupational health and safety
Business deregulation to underpin productivity growth.
Speeding up the progress of reform in achieving a seamless economy for business regulation.

BCA Secretariat contact: Peter Crone, Director Policy

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