Election needs to focus on growing red tape state

New research by free market think tank the Institute of Public Affairs has highlighted the need to reduce the red tape burden of Government agencies.

Of the 1,181 Commonwealth entities and bodies, 497 are estimated to be involved in policy design or enforcement of the federal regulatory system.

444 government bodies established by the Rudd and Gillard governments continue to exist. Of these 198 are involved in the creation and enforcement of red tape.

Senior Fellow at the Institute of Public Affairs, Mikayla Novak said “A re-elected Turnbull Government or Shorten Opposition need to redouble its efforts to abolish public sector red tape regulators and public sector bodies to abate the tendency of overregulation. “

“As was the case with the now abolished Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal, agencies like the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, Safe Work Australia and the Workplace Gender Equality Agency do nothing but impose excessive and unnecessary red tape on the Australian economy.”

The Rudd-Gillard Government saw the biggest expansion of government bodies in the Finance portfolio, where the department had the ironic title of the Department of Finance and Deregulation.

“Bill Shorten’s expansion of red tape bureaucracies would be a handbrake on economic growth and hurt Australia’s international competitiveness,” said Mikayla Novak.

The report, The Red Tape State, is available here:

About the Author: Mikayla Novak

Dr Mikayla Novak is a Senior Research Fellow with the Institute of Public Affairs. She has previously worked for Commonwealth and State public sector agencies, including the Commonwealth Treasury and Productivity Commission. Mikayla was also previously advisor to the Queensland Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Her opinion pieces have been published in The Australian, Australian Financial Review, The Age, and the Courier Mail, on issues ranging from state public finances to social services reform.