Claire Clutterham
Sturt · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“Some in this House have asked: how many cups of coffee can you buy with the Albanese Labor government's 1 July 2026 tax cuts? But I ask: how many cups of coffee can you buy with the money that you save from seeing a GP for free?”
“The eSafety Commissioner has identified serious compliance concerns and is actively investigating five major platforms due to their noncompliance.”
“But we need action from the entire parliament, in this place and in the other place, for that to happen. I call on all members and senators to walk together to take this action. I do that because this issue is also deeply personal for me. In my first speech to this parliament, I spoke about my own experience of bullying at school.”
“One of the early scenes in the 2010 movie The Social Network depicted young women at Harvard recoiling in disgust as they discover a website created by one of their peers that allowed male students to compare them based on their so-called 'hotness'. The website was a precursor to what would become Facebook.”
“Social media is a part of the world they have always known, yet they were remarkably forthright about its downsides. They spoke about algorithms that keep them scrolling, the pressure to seek approval through likes and followers, and the impact social media was having on their confidence, self-esteem and mental health.”
“That is why keeping children safe online should be a bipartisan issue. When the Albanese Labor government introduced the social media minimum age of 16 last year, we did so because we listened to parents, educators, experts and young people.”
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“It's also quite obviously very important for there to be transparency about who is asking for information. Risks to national security may arise if requesters can make requests for information anonymously. And national security risks can only be identified and managed with information. These changes do not inhibit the provision of information to those who have genuine reasons to access information. This is not changing. But the increase in freedom of information processing costs to agencies is increasing to unsustainable levels. In the 2023-24 financial year, agencies spent $86.24 million and one million hours addressing 34,000 freedom of information requests, some of which were maliciously used to attempt to disrupt business or to make abusive, excessive or threatening contact with public servants.”
“In order to qualify for the exemption, the substantive purpose of the document must be for cabinet processes. Simply labelling it as a cabinet submission on the face of the document will not make it qualify, and any suggestion to the contrary is incorrect. The amendments proposed by the bill also propose to improve transparency by removing the ability to make anonymous requests. Together with the implementation of the reasonable fee, which, importantly, does not relate to requests that individual Australians make in relation to their own personal information, the requirement for an applicant to faithfully identify themselves is again designed to reduce the number of vexatious and ill-motivated requests that the Australian Public Service and other relevant third parties have to spend countless hours and taxpayer money dealing with.”
“The amendments proposed by the bill in this respect ensure that information central to the cabinet process is appropriately protected and ensure that the principle of collective ministerial responsibility is not undermined, noting that this principle is crucial to ensuring that full and frank debate can take place within cabinet. The act currently does not contain scope to apply the public interest test to the cabinet exemption, and the bill does not propose to introduce this. The public interest is implicit in the purpose of the exemption itself. We have heard today that it will be enough to mark a document 'cabinet' to qualify for the exemption. This is not correct. There still remains a test for whether a cabinet document is exempt, and that test is the substantive purpose test.”
“They include whether access would prejudice the frank or timely provision of advice to or by an agency or minister and whether it would prejudice the orderly and effective conduct of a government decision-making process. The chamber will note that the list of those factors is neither extensive nor arbitrary and that they would apply in very limited circumstances. We have heard a lot today about the cabinet exemption, which is also being amended to clarify its operation. Firstly, it will be amended to clarify that merely labelling a document as a cabinet document is not enough to make it a cabinet document.”
“Also irrelevant is whether access to the document could result in any person misinterpreting or misunderstanding the document or whether the author of the document was, or still is, of high seniority in the agency to which the request for access to the document was made. The final factor that is irrelevant to the public interest consideration is whether access to the document could result in confusion or unnecessary debate. Article 11B(4) is critical, and I encourage everyone to read it. It is remaining and is not proposed to be amended by this bill. The act currently explains the factors in favour of disclosure and the factors that are irrelevant. What it does not do currently is set out the factors against disclosure. All this bill proposes to do is clarify those actions.”
“There are no proposed changes to this Equally and very importantly, there are no proposed changes to section 11B(4), which sets out factors that are not to be taken into consideration in determining whether access to the document would, on balance, be contrary to the public interest. The first matter—and this is important as we have heard suggestions to the contrary today—that is not to be taken into account is whether access to the document could result in embarrassment to the Commonwealth government or cause a loss of confidence in the Commonwealth government. These things do not matter for the purposes of the act. They are irrelevant in determining whether access to the document is in the public interest. This regime exists in the act and it is not changing.”
“It's either crystallised or removed subject to the public interest test, as set out in section 11B of the act. This section applies for the purposes of working out whether access to a conditionally exempt document would, on balance, be contrary to the public interest. Currently, section 11B lists the factors that favour access or, in other words, that favour the lifting of the conditional exemption. These include whether access to the document would do any of the following: promote the object of the act; inform debate on a matter of public importance; promote effective oversight of public expenditure; or allow a person to access his or her own personal information.”
“Then, the decision-maker must ascertain whether the information was obtained and the purpose for which it was prepared, and how it has been documented or recorded—was there a deliberative process involving the exercise of judgement and the weighing-up and evaluation of competing arguments and considerations? Those are the first two stages. Then, finally, the decision-maker must also be satisfied that the information relates to a deliberative function and that that function was or was intended to be exercised by an agency, a minister or the Commonwealth government. It's not a free pass; the information must pass all three stages in order to determine that it is deliberative matter. Then, and only then, a conditional exemption from disclosure applies. That conditional exemption is then further examined.”
“Section 47C of the Freedom of Information Act operates to provide that a document is conditionally exempt—not exempt but conditionally exempt—if its disclosure under the act would disclose deliberative matter, which is matter in the nature of or relating to opinion, advice or recommendation obtained, prepared or recorded, or consultation or deliberation which has taken place in the course of or for the purposes of the deliberative processes involved in the functions of an agency or a minister or government of the Commonwealth. What ultimately happens to a document that section 47C may have relevance to is a three-stage process. Firstly, the decision-maker must be satisfied that the information in question does actually involve deliberative matter.”
“Governments should be held accountable and the public should have access to information and the ability to easily request that information, but government resources—being time and taxpayer money—should not be tied up addressing vexatious and speculative freedom of information requests that have no basis other than in rumour, misinformation or innuendo. In terms of a critical feature of this bill, it will operate to clarify the public interest test as it relates to matter covered under the deliberative process.”
“For legal practitioners and members of the Public Service who work tirelessly to advise on freedom of information legislation and respond to requests in the spirit of transparency and integrity, the amendments proposed by this bill will simplify matters considerably. The public will have greater clarity over the process by which they can make freedom of information requests and how they are dealt with and greater clarity over what is exempt from disclosure and what is not and, most importantly, why that is so. Importantly, through the implementation of a small fee, which is already replicated across most states and territories in this country, the public will have it reinforced that freedom of information is critical but also a two-way street.”
“I can also attest firsthand to the time that it takes to address freedom of information requests, which, often, when I received them, amounted to nothing more than an exercise in exploration, usually off the back of an ill-informed sound bite floating around the internet. Sometimes it took weeks to respond to these sorts of requests because, when you get one, you want to address it properly. It's not just a case of responding; it's a case of searching through reams and reams of electronic data in order to locate documentation that might possibly be responsive to an overly broad request which is often lacking in any temporal limitation. The rate and volume of electronic records generated today by public sector agencies would have been almost unimaginable when the Freedom of Information Act was first introduced some 40 years ago.”
“So I can attest firsthand to just how complicated it can be to properly and fairly respond to a freedom of information request, particularly with respect to section 47C and its coverage of material falling under the umbrella of deliberative processes and also with respect to section 11B and its, frankly, currently inadequate description of the public interest disclosure test. Clarity in this respect is long overdue. In another recent role prior to parliament, I was a partner in a law firm where we represented certain government clients. Clarity over what information qualifies for the cabinet exemption is long overdue.”
“The Freedom of Information Amendment Bill 2025 would amend the Freedom of Information Act 1982 to improve the operation of the freedom of information framework through reducing system inefficiencies, providing clarity of the law and addressing abuse of processes that impact on people's right to access information. Prior to being elected to federal parliament, I was a practising lawyer for 20 years. I held a number of different roles around the world, and in Australia, in private practice and in-house for companies and government business enterprises. In one of my more recent in-house roles before parliament, the responsibility of addressing third-party freedom of information requests received from members of the public fell to me.”
“First and foremost, however, empowering the public to hold the government to account is fundamental. This openness and accessibility must, however, be balanced with a number of factors, including confidentiality and sensitivity of certain information, and balanced against the allocation of available resources to properly deal with requests for information made by the public. Vital to a healthy and well-functioning democracy, a fundamental aspect of the rule of law, crucial to ensuring government transparency and accountability, and essential to enabling the public to participate in and scrutinise government decision-making, this balance is part of a well-functioning freedom of information system.”
“Freedom of Information is an essential part of any democracy. The public must have a clearly defined legal right to access information held by the government, and the process to access that information must be transparent and easy to use. Scrutiny, review, measurement, testing, debating of government actions and decisions—there are many words that can be used, but these things must be protected. Openness must be practised, and public participation in that practice must be easily facilitated. Individual members of the public must also be able to easily access information about themselves that is held by the government, in order to have knowledge of what that information is but also to be able to change it, add to it or correct it as required.”
“Professor Zheng's innovative technology offers a practical solution for clean energy production in parallel with reducing freshwater consumption, which is particularly vital for a water-scarce region like Australia. His high-performance electrocatalysts enable efficient and robust hydrogen generation. He achieved this by uniting chemical reaction kinetics with materials chemistry. Professor Zheng is an example of what can happen when we listen to and rely on the science. I offer my heartfelt congratulations to Professor Zheng.”
“Last night, the Prime Minister's Prizes for Science awards were held in the great hall of Parliament House. Professor Yao Zheng, a resident of my electorate of Sturt and a professor at the University of Adelaide, won the Malcolm McIntosh Prize for Physical Scientist of the Year for his work in creating a method to generate ultra-pure hydrogen directly from untreated seawater via electrolysis. In his acceptance speech, Professor Zheng noted both the beauty and abundance of two of Australia's greatest natural resources—sunlight and seawater—and, in doing so, asked, 'If our natural resources are abundant and available, then why not harness their power for the purposes of green energy?' The groundbreaking research and work carried out by Professor Zheng and his team has eliminated the need for costly de-ionised water.”
“We will keep working with employers, contractors, unions, state and territory governments, regulators and law enforcement agencies to ensure this critical industry is lawful, safe, fair, productive and sustainable for the future. We need it to be. It's in the interests of all Australians that it is. So it would be helpful and in the interests of all Australians if all sides of politics recognised this and contributed constructively.”
“The difference between the achievements of the administrator—only in effect for 15 months—and the now defunct ABCC, which was ineffective, could not be clearer. The administrator has removed or accepted the resignations of more than 60 staff; has developed a national code of conduct and statement of expectations for all staff; has cracked down on gifts, organised crime and menacing behaviours by setting out clear consequences; and has established inquiries into state branches of the CFMEU. This work will continue until there is an environment of lawful and effective union functioning. There are no quick fixes here, but the Albanese Labor government is committed to the task.”
“The act also established the National Construction Industry Forum, which provides advice to the government on a wide range of issues in the construction industry—including workplace relations, skills, safety, productivity and industry culture. It has a balanced membership, with members who have experience representing employees plus an equal number of members who have experienced representing employers in the building construction industry. Further the joint agency working group—an alliance between regulators and law enforcement agencies—is working in a methodical, careful and measured manner to take action to stamp out corruption, criminality and violence from the construction industry. Other tangible action being taken to stamp this out is the scheme of administration applied to the CFMEU's construction division.”
“When all parties understand and agree that creating an environment where Australians are incentivised to work in the building and construction sector is actually in the best interests of all Australians and when all parties seek to promote this important outcome rather than continually seeking to undermine it for obviously individual purposes, only then can meaningful reform take place. The Australian Building and Construction Commission did not work. We know this. It was ineffective in dealing with the cultural and substantive issues that had been embedded within the industry for decades. That's why, quite rightly, the ABCC was abolished by the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Act 2022.”
“We cannot afford it, because there is too much building work to do. The problems, however, that were deeply embedded in the industry are decades in the making and they need to be solved. Let's be clear though. They can't be solved overnight, and it is unhelpful and unrealistic to expect that. Rather than continually drawing attention to them in a manner which lacks construction and is unproductive, those on all sides of politics need to come to the table and act in a bipartisan manner to ensure that the problems are solved as fast as possible.”
“The Albanese Labor government, under the leadership of the Prime Minister and the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, is focused on ensuring that the environment that these workers and educators will contribute to is free of corruption, criminality or violence. Corruption, criminality and violence will not be tolerated and is not tolerated in any part of the construction industry by this government. We do not accept it, and suggestions by the member for Goldstein to the contrary are false. We don't accept it. It can't be like that. If the environment is affected by corruption or criminality or violence, the potential workers that we need will be disincentivised to join the building and construction industry, and we know that these kinds of disincentives cannot exist.”
“When it comes to the construction industry the focus of the Albanese Labor government is on creating a fair and transparent environment concentrated on ensuring that there are highly skilled and qualified workers in the various trades that we need to build a future made in Australia, including first and foremost to build the houses that this country needs. It's also focused on providing skilled and highly qualified educators within TAFE and other VET providers and within the apprenticeship sphere to ensure we have enough educators to train the workers we need to build a future made in Australia.”
“Emissions of other greenhouse gases, such as methane, which has a more intense warming effect in the atmosphere, also need to be constrained. Everyone in politics wants the following things for Australians and for our country: cheaper energy bills; food security underpinned by quality healthy food; meaningful well-paid jobs; good and sustained levels of public, physical and mental health; healthier air; a functioning and effective hospital system; revitalised and sustainable biodiversity; and a beautiful, clean and supported Australian environment to enjoy forever. So, by all means, question the government and hold us to account, but stop denying the data and stop equivocating. Join us and have a say in the just and fair transition. A majority of Australian voters asked you to.”
“When constituents in my electorate of Sturt talk to me about the climate, which they do very often because Sturt is an electorate that cares deeply about the just and fair transition, I find myself unable to explain why some voices in politics are still calling for a repeal of net zero, still denying the science of climate change and still refusing to accept that we can have a just and fair transition if we have bipartisanship. The science tells us that the eventual extent of global warming is proportional to the total amount of carbon dioxide that human activities add to the atmosphere. So, in order to stabilise climate change, carbon dioxide emissions need to fall to zero. The longer it takes to do so, the more the climate will change. Carbon dioxide is just one of the greenhouse gases emitted when we burn fossil fuels.”
“That's what this government focuses on, and that is why we are pursuing the transition to renewable energy. It's not a strategy driven by ideology; it's driven by data. Imagine if data and science were accepted by all sides of politics. We could then embark on a bipartisan transition that is just and fair to workers, to the environment and to all Australians. Imagine what the results of that combined effort could be. Instead, climate science, also underpinned by data, is being ignored.”
“The average spot price at that time was $42.62 per megawatt hour, lower than in all the other states for which data was available—Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania. I'm not going to stand here today and say that the data means that energy bills in South Australia are cheap, because on average they are not and more work is required in that respect. But the data illustrated that the renewables-dominated fuel mix in my state resulted in a lower spot price per megawatt hour. These results that I've just relayed to this chamber are based on evidence based data produced by the Australian Energy Market Operator. They're based not on guesswork or speculation but on data, and data and science are what governments need to focus on.”
“More than 1,600 households have taken advantage of the Albanese Labor government's cheaper home batteries scheme. We are second in the country. This program is helping these households reduce electricity bills by making the most of cheap and clean solar power, by storing it for when it is needed. But it doesn't just help 1,600 households; it lowers costs for everyone by reducing peak demand and creating a more stable electricity grid. In South Australia though, we get frustrated because on a typical day 80 per cent of our energy is generated by renewables. As I prepared these remarks yesterday, the Australian Energy Market Operator fuel mix dashboard showed that 88 per cent of South Australia's energy was being generated by wind.”
“This motion does state the obvious: energy bills are expensive. They place significant pressure on household budgets, and we all know this needs to change. The complexity is that this change must happen in parallel with one of the greatest industrial transformations in the last century, the shift away from dirty, unreliable and ageing coal to renewable energy. The change is happening, and we all accept it needs to be a just and fair transition, executed in a way that protects jobs, protects the environment and lays a sustainable foundation. This is a hugely complex undertaking. Effort is required from all layers of government—federal, state and local. Effort is required from business and industry. And effort is required from individual Australians. In my state of South Australia and in my electorate of Sturt, this effort is bearing fruit.”
“It is not one or the other; it is all of these things together. The legislation to separate the Australian Energy Regulator from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is part of that framework. It strengthens independence, it builds public trust and it ensures energy policy is a priority. The people of Sturt and the people of Australia deserve an energy regulator that works for them, for households, for businesses and for a cleaner and more affordable future. I commend the bill to the House.”
“This is giving them access to electricity stored in the community battery through South Australia's Virtual Power Plant. The battery stores excess renewable energy from the grid when it is abundant for use at later times when demand and the cost is high. By doing this as part of South Australia's Virtual Power Plant, it delivers renewable energy and the cheapest residential electricity rate in South Australia. It delivers this to families doing it tough—to eligible low-income houses who need power prices to be dropping. Since it came online, the data shows us that it has driven down annual power prices for those families by an average of $562. The approach of the Albanese Labor government is clear. We believe in cheaper energy bills, we believe in cleaner energy led by renewables and we believe in strong regulation.”
“South Australia also leads the nation in rooftop solar, and my electorate of Sturt ranks second in the country for the uptake of the Albanese Labor government's Cheaper Home Batteries Program. Last week, we cracked 1,600, so thousands of families in Campbelltown, in Magill, in Glynde, in St Peters and in Rostrevor are generating their own clean energy, driving down their bills and contributing to a more sustainable energy grid, driving down bills for everyone. And then we have our community battery in Sturt, an initiative that I'll continue to speak about and champion. Based at Tuku Wirra Reserve in Magill, this community battery provides energy to multiple low-income SA Housing Trust tenants in Magill and the surrounding suburbs.”
“It is forecast to produce roughly 1.5 terawatt hours of renewable energy each year. And then in South Australia today, as of 4 pm, the Australian Energy Market Operator fuel mix dashboard showed that 13 per cent of our energy was being generated by solar and 82 per cent was being generated by wind. We know that generation costs of wind energy and solar energy are next to zero. We know that the more renewables there are in the system, the less we need to depend on unreliable, dirty, coal fired power. This will provide additional cost relief on energy bills when more renewables come into the grid. Our pathway to 100 per cent net renewable energy by 2027 in South Australia is something that I am proud of. It is an extraordinary achievement that I hope to see replicated across this great country.”
“I am proud that my home state of South Australia is already leading the world in decarbonising its energy sector. In almost two decades in South Australia we have gone from a total reliance on fossil fuels to a grid where around 80 per cent of our electricity comes from renewable sources, with wind and solar being the primary contributors. In South Australia, we really are leading the way. We are on track to reach 100 per cent net renewable energy by 2027, with billions invested in large-scale renewables and more in the pipeline. Recently, the 412-megawatt Goyder South wind farm in Burra in South Australia's regions was opened. It's the largest in the state, with 75 turbines boosting wind generation by more than 20 per cent and powering homes and businesses including BHP, which will draw power from the Goyder wind farm.”
“This is a passionate group of local people who are dedicated to advancing climate action by encouraging households to electrify and switch from fossil fuels. They understand that electrification means not only lower emissions but also cheaper, healthier homes. I've also met with Catherine, Cathy and Andrea in my electorate. They formed Grandmas for Climate Action. These women are motivated by the most profound concern: the future of their children and grandchildren. They are asking, 'What type of planet are we leaving for future generations?' Their voices are powerful reminders that climate change is not an abstract policy debate. It's about the kind of country and the kind of planet that we will hand down to the next generation. It's not based on ideology; it is based on science and data.”
“With this legislation, we give the Australian Energy Regulator the independence and the authority it needs to meet the challenges of our time. Make no mistake: these challenges are huge. We are in the middle of the most significant transformation of our energy sector since electricity was first switched on in Australia: the transition away from dirty, unreliable, ageing coal to renewable energy. This transition to renewables is not optional; it is essential. It is essential for our planet and for households struggling with rising prices. It is essential for businesses that want certainty to invest. Above all, I say again, it is essential if we are serious about tackling climate change. In my electorate of Sturt, I've seen how deeply my community care about our future. I recently met with the Electrify Adelaide group.”
“Thirdly, the fundamental disconnect between traditional governance of the Australian Energy Regulator employees, led by the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission, and the organisational strategy and direction, led by the board of the AER, would continue, exacerbating the governance risks to both entities and increasing the probability that inefficient and often duplicative governance processes would have to be undertaken to manage that risk. So this straightforward and minimalist legislation resets that improves the governance environment without altering the primary objectives of the Australian Energy Regulator, which is the monitoring of compliance, with rules applicable to the energy markets, to the benefit of all Australian consumers.”
“Without the passage of this legislation the following issues would remain. Firstly, the Australian Energy Regulator and Australian Competition and Consumer Commission would remain as a single Commonwealth entity under finance law, with the Australian Energy Regulator Board continuing to have the powers required to fulfil its regulatory role but no authoritative control over the resources and people needed to carry out that important regulatory work. Secondly, the dual ministerial responsibility would continue with respect to the activities of the Australian Energy Regulator.”
“In terms of the mechanics of the legislation, it will amend the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 to legally separate the AER from the ACCC, enabling the Australian Energy Regulator to have operational control of its own governance arrangements, its own resources and its own staff. In further technical terms, for the purposes of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013, the legislation establishes the Australian Energy Regulator as a non-corporate Commonwealth entity that is separate from the ACCC for the purposes of that act but as a non-corporate Commonwealth entity not legally separate from the government. Importantly, this legislation does not change the role, obligations and function of the Australian Energy Regulator as the independent energy regulator. That is not being changed by this legislation.”
“Further, without this legislation, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chair would retain technical responsibility for the Australian Energy Regulator's leadership, governance and strategic direction in circumstances where it is in fact the Australian Energy Regulator's independent board that is ultimately accountable for those things. This disconnect between responsibility and accountability does not represent good governance, and good governance in energy market regulation is critical in circumstances where Australia's energy markets are embarking on a significant period of transition.”
“This is significantly less than what the data tells us about the 2024 financial year, which recorded 400 employees and an annual program budget of $95.67 million. Increased responsibility, increased resources and increased budget accountability mean that governance arrangements need to be re-examined to ensure that they are fit for purpose. The separation of the Australian Energy Regulator from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission addresses these governance issues in two critical ways: firstly, by aligning responsibility for the regulatory functions of the Australian Energy Regulator as the independent energy regulator; and, secondly, by prescribing influential control over the Australian Energy Regulator's employees and funding, which is currently within the sphere of the ACCC.”
“With the needs of consumers at the top of its list of priorities, the Australian Energy Regulator is one of three major market bodies that oversee national electricity and gas markets in Australia: firstly, the Australian Energy Market Commission, which develops the rules by which the markets operate; secondly, the Australian Energy Market Operator, which manages the day-to-day operations of the markets; and then, thirdly, the Australian Energy Regulator, which monitors performance and compliance with the rules. Since its inception in 2005, the environment in which the Australian Energy Regulator operates has significantly expanded, as has its remit and functions. In the 2005 financial year, the Australian Energy Regulator had 15 employees and an annual program budget of $6½ million.”
“The Australian Energy Regulator has a big job. It regulates energy networks and wholesale and retail markets in Australia to ensure that they are secure, reliable and affordable for consumers. It sets the rules for our electricity and gas markets, making sure companies play fair and consumers get the best deal. But it's been tied to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, an organisation with responsibilities that span the entire economy, and that model has held back the Australian Energy Regulator's independence and focus.”
“I rise today to speak in support of the Competition and Consumer Amendment (Australian Energy Regulator Separation) Bill 2025. This is important legislation to separate the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission from the Australian Energy Regulator. While this legislation is technical in nature, for households and businesses in my electorate of Sturt this reform is about something more real: lowering power bills, providing more reliable energy and laying the foundations for a stronger future. This Albanese Labor government is getting on with the job of delivering real energy relief and real reform of the energy market. That's why this legislation matters. It's being conducted in parallel with sustained efforts to transition our economy to renewable energy and bring down power bills for all Australians.”
“The amendments also include updating legislation to recognise the needs of Australia's renewable energy transition by making it easier to buy smarter appliances that use electricity when it is cheapest, like hot water systems that heat water for the evening shower while the sun is still shining, and, finally, providing more consistency across social security legislation to streamline government processes. So, following on from the economic roundtable, this bill is intended to be the first of a series of regulatory reform bills that will improve productivity across government and across the economy. Better regulation is at the heart of this bill. More efficient regulation is at the heart of this bill, because we know we need regulation that meets the opportunities and challenges of a global economy, which is constantly moving and changing.”
“As well as repealing redundant legislation that is no longer fit for purpose, the amendments in Schedule 4 include: allowing the Australian Communications and Media Authority to more efficiently delegate ordinary administrative functions; allowing the Department of Defence to more efficiently delegate powers and decisions relating to the Woomera Prohibited Area; and updating outdated legislation, which will ensure that NBN mapping data remains publicly available. They include updating legislation to facilitate information-gathering to enable the Commonwealth to monitor and regulate fuel security. Information about fuel-related products, critical to Australia's trucking industry, fuel markets and fuel stocks, will be able to be collected by the Commonwealth where there is a risk of potential shortage of critical fuels.”
“The small but significant improvements introduced by schedule 3 include: amending private health insurance legislation to remove the possibility of insurers breaching the law on a rounding technicality; allowing petroleum and environmental regulators to share information to avoid needing to collect information from industry more than once and supporting better coordination across those petroleum regulators. Finally, schedule 4 is directed at amendments to increase government efficiency and improve productivity by eliminating bureaucratic tasks that do not achieve outcomes that are proportionate to the time and resource investment.”
“Staying with business, regulation also plays a role in ensuring fair competition by creating a level playing field and by establishing rules and safeguards for market behaviour, which not only benefits business but also benefits consumers. The setting of rules, incentives and penalties and then the monitoring of performance and compliance against the rules is important for fairness, quality and transparency, and is successful when balanced with the benefits that come with allowing businesses to operate freely. In this sense, overregulation or inefficient regulation causes business paralysis and can act as a disincentive. Schedule 3 of this bill is a first step in the government's agenda to reform regulation to ensure that it enhances productivity and does not paralyse business.”