The Australian Trucking Association (ATA) has put forward a submission to the Productivity Commission about the importance of sound Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) processes.
As an example, the ATA outlined what it describes as poor regulatory impact analysis throughout the National Transport Commission’s (NTC) review of heavy vehicle charges that it says led to a poor outcome and a lack of trust between the NTC and industry.
In its submission, the ATA recommends stronger RIS requirements with meaningful obligations be imposed on chief executives of Commonwealth agencies, and calls for a post-implementation RIS to be commissioned to clearly and fairly assess the impact of changes to heavy vehicle charges on the trucking industry and the wider community.
According to David Coonan, ATA national policy manager, the NTC’s avoidance of a clear and fair regulatory impact procedure has damaged the relationship between it and the industry.
“Having the Productivity Commission look at the regulatory impact procedures is a matter of helping the Government to make informed decisions,” Coonan said. “The ATA believes the incorporation of a more robust RIS is an essential part of new policy decisions, leading to better outcomes for all Australians.”