Figure 4: The RPF process The Government has received positive regulators for example, the Australian – feedback on the RPF from a range of Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA)’s approved stakeholders. This highlights the importance stakeholder engagement body, the AMSA of holding regulators to account and Advisory Committee, is comprised of senior promoting constructive relationships between representatives from 15 organisations which Australian government regulators and their are touched by AMSA’s regulatory footprint, stakeholders. including Ports Australia, the Royal Australian Navy, the Australian Antarctic Division and 2015-16 self-assessments Yachting Australia. As in the 2015 Annual Red Tape Reports also outlined how regulators engage Reduction Report, the first period for with their regulated populations. In some regulators to self-assess their performance cases, regulators’ stakeholder engagement against the RPF commenced on 1 July 2015 processes had not been captured elsewhere and concluded on 30 June 2016. in annual reporting processes and so the RPF Following the conclusion of the 2015-16 helped to paint a more complete picture of financial year, regulators then had a further regulators’ stakeholder engagement activities. six months to conduct, externally validate, The reports also identified areas for and publish their first self-assessment reports improvement and allowed regulators to for the period. As of 30 June 2017, over respond to negative feedback, particularly 90 per cent of Commonwealth regulators where their activities are dictated by their covered by the RPF had completed and governing legislation. For example, AMSA’s published their self-assessment reports, which self-assessment report noted stakeholder can be found online, usually on the regulator’s concerns that simple communication of or their parent agency’s website. complex legislative rules was sometimes a challenge. However, the report noted that it Regulator Performance Framework “The has provided numerous consultative offers an excellent opportunity for mechanisms to formal advisory groups, Federal regulatory agencies to reflect on information, and dedicated liaison ‘pushed’ their processes” officers for regions to assist with providing Financial Planning wide-ranging and simple communication Association of Australia strategies. The published reports demonstrate the breadth of regulatory activity undertaken by
Figure 4: The RPF process The Government has received positive feedback on the RPF from a range of stakeholders. This highlights the importance of holding regulators to account and promoting constructive relationships between Australian government regulators and their stakeholders. 2015-16 self-assessments As in the 2015 Annual Red Tape Reduction Report, the first period for regulators to self-assess their performance against the RPF commenced on 1 July 2015 and concluded on 30 June 2016. Following the conclusion of the 2015-16 financial year, regulators then had a further six months to conduct, externally validate, and publish their first self-assessment reports for the period. As of 30 June 2017, over 90 per cent of Commonwealth regulators covered by the RPF had completed and published their self-assessment reports, which can be found online, usually on the regulator’s or their parent agency’s website. “The Regulator Performance Framework offers an excellent opportunity for Federal regulatory agencies to reflect on their processes” Financial Planning Association of Australia The published reports demonstrate the breadth of regulatory activity undertaken by regulators – for example, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA)’s approved stakeholder engagement body, the AMSA Advisory Committee, is comprised of senior representatives from 15 organisations which are touched by AMSA’s regulatory footprint, including Ports Australia, the Royal Australian Navy, the Australian Antarctic Division and Yachting Australia. Reports also outlined how regulators engage with their regulated populations. In some cases, regulators’ stakeholder engagement processes had not been captured elsewhere in annual reporting processes and so the RPF helped to paint a more complete picture of regulators’ stakeholder engagement activities. The reports also identified areas for improvement and allowed regulators to respond to negative feedback, particularly where their activities are dictated by their governing legislation. For example, AMSA’s self-assessment report noted stakeholder concerns that simple communication of complex legislative rules was sometimes a challenge. However, the report noted that it has provided numerous consultative mechanisms to formal advisory groups, ‘pushed’ information, and dedicated liaison officers for regions to assist with providing wide-ranging and simple communication strategies.
annual_regulatory_reform_report_1_january_2016-30_june_2017-final.docx