INTHEBLACK December 2021 - Magazine - Page 42
F E AT U R E
// R E G U L AT O RY P O L I C Y
Below: Emeritus professor Arie Freiberg,
Monash University
be a good way forward,” says van der Heijden.
He adds that the International Federation of
Accountants is one example of a professional
body that works with governments in different
countries to improve the development and
implementation of regulation.
Keddie Waller, head of public practice and
SME at CPA Australia, says that, in addition to
formal consultation, informal dialogue between
the private sector and government creates an
efficient channel through which government can
respond dynamically to real-world conditions.
“Most recently in Australia, especially as we
cope with the effects of the pandemic, we can see
it in the government’s deregulatory agenda,” she
says. “Government has been asking business for
examples of ways they can streamline regulations
while maintaining consumer protections.”
STEPS FORWARD
In July 2019, the Australian Government
established a Deregulation Taskforce, headed by
Ben Morton MP, assistant minister to the Prime
Minister and Cabinet.
Since 2020, the taskforce’s policy focus has
been on fast-acting relief measures to stimulate
42 ITB December 2021
the post-COVID-19 economy. These include a
recently passed piece of legislation that allows
people to get automatic mutual recognition for
work licences in different states.
The taskforce has already developed an
Employment Contract Tool to automate the
hiring process for small businesses.
It also plans to simplify the customs regime,
standardise document execution across states
and, in consultation with state consumer affairs
ministers, evaluate whether it is safe to allow
products that comply with trusted overseas
standards to gain automatic acceptance in
Australia.
However, in addition to benefits, close
collaboration also carries risks, says van der
Heijden.
“The risk with any regulatory partnership
is that already-strong voices get even more
opportunities to influence future legislation,”
he cautions. “This may be at the expense of
weaker voices, who tend to be the beneficiaries
of regulation.”
Morton’s speech to the Business Council of
Australia delivered in October 2020 echoes
this view.
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