‘War’ on red tape declared

By John Van Klaveren
A CAMPAIGN against red tape has begun in Geelong, business leaders have announced.
Geelong Chamber of Commerce executive officer Bernadette Uzelac said the business deregulation campaign would be a key issue for the next 12 months.
A Geelong Business Network breakfast this week heard that Australia had the most business regulation in the world.
International expert, Deakin University Professor Jean du Plessis, said Australia’s corporations act alone had more than 3000 sections.
The US act contained around 500 sections and the UK’s had 1300 sections, Prof du Plessis said.
“Australia’s corporate law is massively complex with a maze of cross-references, making it almost impossible to comprehend,” he told the breakfast.
Prof du Plessis said a federal corporate law simplification program actually added to the complexities.
A Productivity Commission report identifying and evaluating regulation reform ran to 609 pages, he said.
Prof du Plessis believed a productivity boost from cutting red tape would help offset the global financial crisis in Australia.
Kings Australia director Michael King told the breakfast he was seeking local businesses to submit instances of burdensome or frustrating regulation.
Mr King, a member of Federal Government’s national small business advisory committee, declared a “war on red tape”.
He cited an example of a regulation requiring Victorian Regional Channels Authority to pay for a whale lookout on all dredging operations in Corio Bay.
“There must be whales in Corio Bay if the regulations say you have to keep a lookout for them.”
Mr King said several businesses contacted him after the breakfast to offer assistance.
Local businesses were keen to have a voice on the issue at a national level, he said.
“The chamber of commerce will be the contact point for local businesses wishing to participate in this campaign.
“I will be happy to collect information and evidence from regional businesses and pass it on to Canberra.
“An evidence base from a whole range of sectors across the region adds credibility.”