Australian Chamber welcomes moves to cut red tape

05 Aug 2019 | ,

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry welcomes today’s announcement that the Productivity Commission will focus on streamlining regulation in the resources sector.

“The joint announcement by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, Resources Minister Matt Canavan and Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Ben Morton, together with the regulation reduction initiative led by Mr Morton, shows leadership in tackling red tape holding back investment and job creation,” Australian Chamber CEO James Pearson said.

“Too often we hear of layer upon layer of approvals and regulatory bottlenecks choking off projects and economic opportunities, particularly for regional communities,” Mr Pearson said.

“Flow through benefits to the community, including people in regional Australia, of significant resources development proposals should not have to be held back for years waiting for approval.”

The focus on improving the efficiency of environmental approvals to reduce the regulatory burden on business while complementing the review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 is particularly welcomed by the Chamber.

“We need to find the right balance between sound oversight and managing impacts to the environment while addressing regulatory overlap and approval times.

“We are working with the industries in our network to identify red tape that is tying up Australian businesses, particularly small businesses, unnecessarily. We will be meeting with the Government’s Regulation Task Force soon to discuss where the greatest gains in productivity and efficiency can be made.

“One area where we believe there are real benefits to deliver is in reducing barriers to trade, both export and import.

“We need to do as much as we can to ensure that our economy is as globally competitive as we can make it.

“Our aim is to remove or reduce red tape and unnecessary compliance measures, to make it easier for business to succeed and benefit all Australians. We look forward to supporting the red tape reduction initiative led by Assistant Minister Morton to achieve that goal.”

The Australian Chamber is Australia’s largest network of employers, speaking for over 300,000 businesses employing millions of Australians in every sector of the economy, in every corner of Australia. Our Small Business is a Big Deal campaign gives voice to what small businesses need from the federal government, and our Getting on with Business recommends ways to make Australia the best place in the world to do business, so that Australians have the jobs, living standards and opportunities to which they aspire

Marie Hogg

Senior Adviser, Media

P  |  0431 299 518

E  |  [email protected]

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