Edition 13 - June 2021
In this month’s newsletter, strategist and facilitator Adam Beaumont recommends regulators focus on your underlying objectives and your own practices when implementing your regulatory rules and approach, and don’t let poor practice tie up your duty holders in ‘beige tape’.
Jobs board
Great news! NRCoP corporate members now have access to FREE advertising of regulatory policy and practice roles, which will reach 5,500 subscribers to the NRCoP. Here’s the link to the advertising form NRCoP Jobs Submission Form. And to check on the new regulatory jobs opportunities: apo.org.au/jobs-regulation
Other content comes from a wide range of regulatory agencies and can be further explored in the Regulation Policy & Practice Collection on APO.
If you have content suggestions for this collection contact Penelope Aitken (Collections Editor, APO) paitken@apo.org.au
We also welcome topic suggestions for subsequent editions. Contact Monica Pfeffer (Director of Practitioner Engagement, ANZSOG) regulators@anzsog.edu.au
GUEST EDITORIAL
At the coal face, regulatory practitioners can easily find the emphasis on ‘red tape’ frustrating. The regulators’-eye view of the world naturally focuses on the public value of regulation, like preventing or fixing wrongs or harms, or changing individual, organisational and community behaviour for the good...
Adam Beaumont, currently Director at With Purpose Consulting, was one of the founding members and the first chair of the Victorian Regulators Community of Practice, the precursor to the National Regulators Community of Practice.
NEW THIS MONTH
Protecting freedom of thought in the digital age
Centre for International Governance Innovation
31 May 2021 | Briefing paper | Social issues, Technology
This policy brief explores what the rights to freedom of thought and opinion mean in practical terms when applied to the digital space and offers some pointers for what future-proof regulation to protect our minds could look like.
Productivity Commission white paper 2021
Government of New South Wales
31 May 2021 | Report | Economics
This document outlines a new productivity reform agenda for New South Wales that could lift productivity growth and boost real wages, without raising the tax burden.
Taking back control of regulation: managing divergence from EU rules
Institute for Government
31 May 2021 | Report | Economics, International relations
The United Kingdom has regained its regulatory autonomy, but it remains unclear how the government plans to exercise it. This report explores how divergence from European Union rules could arise, why the government might want to act differently, the consequences this could have and how the government should manage the process.
Rethinking permanent skilled migration after the pandemic
Grattan Institute
30 May 2021 | Report | Economics
Before COVID-19, Australia was one of the world’s most open countries for migration. However, recent travel restrictions have brought migration to a standstill. This report shows how Australia’s permanent skilled migration program should change when borders are reopened.
Australia as a space power: combining civil, defence and diplomatic efforts
National Security College (ANU)
28 May 2021 | Policy report | International relations, Technology
This policy paper explores the important question of how Australia should approach the space domain in the years ahead, in pursuit of our national interest objectives.
COVID-19 procurements and deployments of the National Medical Stockpile
Australian National Audit Office
27 May 2021 | Report | Government, Health
Since its emergence in late 2019, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a global pandemic that is impacting on human health and national economies. From February 2020, the Australian Government introduced a range of policies and measures to respond to COVID-19.
Human rights and technology: final report
Australian Human Rights Commission
27 May 2021 | Report | Social issues, Technology
This report is the culmination of a major project on new and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence. The report reflects the Commission’s extensive public consultation regarding the impact of new technologies on human rights.
Australia Post
Parliament of Australia
26 May 2021 | Report | Economics
This inquiry was established to investigate the events relating to the resignation of former Australia Post CEO, Christine Holgate, and to examine issues related to the secret Boston Consulting Group review and the future of Australia Post's service delivery obligations.
Measuring and reporting on service delivery
Victorian Auditor-General's Office
26 May 2021 | Report | Government
This audit assesses if the way Victorian government departments measure and report on their service delivery supports accountability and good decision-making.
Just reward: the case for a wage rise after COVID-19
Per Capita
25 May 2021 | Report | Economics
The Fair Work Commission’s 2021 Annual Wage Review is occurring in the context of the most uncertain economic outlook Australia has experienced in decades. This report outlines the case for a significant increase in the minimum wage, which will flow through to higher take-home pay for the more than 2 million Australian workers who rely on award wages.
Remaking audit: a plan for culture change and regulatory reform
Institute for Public Policy Research
25 May 2021 | Briefing paper | Economics
This paper places a particular emphasis on culture change in the audit industry – an area that is under-studied and has not been sufficiently covered in the UK government’s reviews.
Biodiversity, natural capital and the economy: a policy guide for finance, economic and environment ministers
OECD Publishing
21 May 2021 | Policy report | Economics, Environment, Government
This report provides the latest findings and policy guidance for G7 and other countries in four key areas: measuring and mainstreaming biodiversity; aligning budgetary and fiscal policy with biodiversity; embedding biodiversity in the financial sector; and improving biodiversity outcomes linked to international trade.
The constant boss: work under digital surveillance
Data & Society Research Institute
19 May 2021 | Report | Economics, Technology
This report argues that policy-makers must build robust data protections that empower workers, not just consumers, and also broaden their understanding of algorithmic harms beyond bias and discrimination.
Technology and trust: priorities for a reimagined economy led by technology
Committee for Economic Development of Australia
19 May 2021 | Discussion paper | Economics, Technology
The pace of change in digital technology and the challenge of designing effective regulation after the fact, make the stewardship of emerging technologies challenging. This paper argues that appointing a Chief Technologist and committing to transparent and independent technology assessments could help Australia become a leading digital nation.
Net zero by 2050: a roadmap for the global energy sector
International Energy Agency
18 May 2021 | Report | Economics, Environment
The number of countries announcing pledges to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions over the coming decades continues to grow. This report assesses the policy requirements, the deployment and innovation needs, the necessary investments, the economic benefits and the wider implications for the world.
A new consumer duty
Financial Conduct Authority (United Kingdom)
14 May 2021 | Discussion paper | Economics
This consultation paper focusses on a Consumer Duty that would set clearer and higher expectations for firms’ standards of care towards consumers.
Preventing the financial abuse of women: literature and desktop review
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia)
13 May 2021 | Literature review | Justice, Social issues
This document presents a review of the literature relating to existing approaches to addressing financial abuse of women. It explores how the issue of financial abuse is defined and discussed, maps a variety of interventions and programs in place to which respond, and prevent the issue from occurring, and looks at how best practice can be defined.
Regulatory Impact Analysis guide for ministers’ meetings and national standard setting bodies
Government of Australia
13 May 2021 | Guide | Economics, Government
This guide sets out the regulatory impact analysis requirements for decisions taken by intergovernmental decision-making bodies.
Fintech sandboxes: promoting innovation, encouraging competition
Mercatus Center
11 May 2021 | Briefing paper | Economics
Regulatory burdens and uncertainty in the financial sector can cost companies money and make them risk averse. For innovators, regulators, and consumers, “sandboxes” can provide an experimental environment for companies to test new products or services in a laxer regulatory environment, as explained in this brief.
Getting to fair: breaking down barriers to essential services - strategy draft
Essential Services Commission
6 May 2021 | Draft report | Government, Justice
This draft strategy aims to ensure the Victorian Essential Services Commission’s work supports access to essential services for consumers experiencing vulnerability.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
The truth tellers: why we need profound audit sector reform now
Institute for Public Policy Research
21 Apr 2021 | Briefing paper | Economics
In this first report of a three-part series, the authors provide an assessment of the core problems of the audit sector and their costs for society. They also show how a reformed audit sector could be boon for a productive economy.
The New Energy Tech Consumer Code: representing the interests of consumers at the Australian Competition Tribunal
Consumer Action Law Centre
29 Mar 2021 | Report | Built environment, Justice
This report documents Consumer Action's experience representing the interests of consumers at the Australian Competition Tribunal, reflecting upon the impact of their involvement and how to ensure stronger consumer protections are in place within the NET industry.
Red and beige tape: is regulation a dead weight on the economy?
With Purpose Consulting
24 Aug 2020 | Audio podcast | Economics
Adam Beaumont talks with Chris Webb, Executive Director Regulatory Practice and Strategy at the Environment Protection Authority (EPA), Victoria about how we define red tape when talking about regulation and the concept of beige tape.
Challenges and opportunities in the post-COVID-19 world
World Economic Forum
19 May 2020 | Book | Economics, Government
This collection of essays from the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report Advisory Board looks ahead and across a broad range of issues – trade, governance, health, labour, technology - to consider the balance of risk and opportunities in the post-pandemic world.
Red tape reduction: WA
Department of Treasury (WA)
18 Feb 2020 | Website | Economics
This site provides tools to assist Western Australian agencies with identifying, quantifying and reducing the burden of red tape.
Red tape reduction: ACNC
Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission
24 Mar 2019 | Website | Economics
This website outlines the progress the ACNC has made in reducing red tape for charities based on a charity's structure and provides additional resources for charities and regulators of charities.
UPCOMING FREE EVENTS
Tuesday 22 June
12pm - 1pm (AEST)
Facilitator: Adam Beaumont (Director, With Purpose Consulting)
Presenters: Nicole Lawless (Acting Deputy Ombudsman, NSW Ombudsman) and Andrew Gavrielatos (Executive Director of Community Engagement, NSW Department of Customer Service)
Please join our facilitator and panel as they canvass ideas about how regulators can more strategically utilise complaints in the service of better regulatory practice.
We acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as First Peoples of Australia and Māori as tangata whenua and Treaty of Waitangi partners in Aotearoa-New Zealand.
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